Epstein Secrets

the tip of the iceberg. —RETIRED ADMIRAL MICHAEL MCCONNELL, vice-chairman, Booz Allen Hamilton, 2013 | | E

98 PART TWO THE INTELLIGENCE CRISIS What you've seen so far [in the Snowden theft of documents] is just the tip of the iceberg. —RETIRED ADMIRAL MICHAEL MCCONNELL, vice-chairman, Booz Allen Hamilton, 2013 | | Epst_9780451494566_2p_all_r1.z.indd 111 @ 9/29/16 5:51PM | | HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019599 | | Epst_978045

am headed by Richard “Rick” Ledgett, who was then director of the NSA’s Threat Opera- tions Center at the NSA’s headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland. Ledgett was the logical choice to head the damage assessment inves- tigation because the center’s regional branch in Hawaii was under his command. Ledgett fl

n camera in his Hong Kong interview in June 2013 that NSA investi- gators would have “a heart attack” when they discovered the extent of the breach. Ledgett, the NSA official who had conducted the damage assess- ment, while not having a heart attack, confirmed that Snowden had taken a massive number of do

ion to the direct and significant cost to taxpayers represented by this investiga- tion, one measure of how serious the loss has been was revealed by Michael McConnell, the vice-chairman of the company for which Snowden had worked at the time of the breach. McConnell stated publicly, “Snowden has compromised more ca

serious the loss has been was revealed by Michael McConnell, the vice-chairman of the company for which Snowden had worked at the time of the breach. McConnell stated publicly, “Snowden has compromised more capability than any spy in U.S. history.” McConnell had no obvious reason to exaggerate the @ loss be

es to Russia.” 41 Physical Phatness: Lindsay Mills’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com /lindsay.mills.90/about. 42. the first known document: Ledgett revealed this in an interview with Vanity Fair. Burrough, Ellison, and Andrews, “Snowden Saga.” 42 “He stole the [NSA] test”: Snowden’s obtaining th

“I, Spy.” “was moving copies of that data”: Burrough, Ellison, and Andrews, “Snowden Saga.” 45 he later pointed out: Bamford, “Edward Snowden.” 45 Ledgett subsequently reported: Burrough, Ellison, and Andrews, “Snowden Saga.” 45 This theft was made: Michael Hayden, interview with author. 46 “Icrossed

ndd 27 @ 9/29/16 5:51 Pa | | HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019515 CHAPTER 3 Contractor Private contractors don’t clear employees. The government does. —ADMIRAL MICHAEL MCCONNELL, former vice-chairman, Booz Allen Hamilton GroNeeN aged twenty-five, returned from Europe and moved into his mother’s condo. Not only was he unempl

an Michael McConnell said with the bene- fit of hindsight. As a result of the theft, he appraised, “an entire gen- eration of intelligence was lost.” McConnell, a former NSA director, was in a position to know. Snowden’s sudden career change had both advantages and disad- vantages for the enterprise he was

ell was transferring files held at Fort Meade to backup computers in Hawaii. He “was moving copies of that data there for them,” said Deputy Director Ledgett, “which was perfect cover for stealing the [NSA] data” through the fall and winter of 2012. The security mea- sures at the Hawaii base presented no o

IGHT_020168 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_020169 18 CHAPTER ONE The Great Divide “What you’ve seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg.” -- retired Admiral Michael McConnell, vice chairman of Booz Allen Hamilton On June 9, 2013, the Guardian, the British newspaper known for the quality and gravity of its reporting posted

hairman Michael McConnell said with the benefit of hindsight. As a result of the theft, he appraised “an entire generation of intelligence was lost.” McConnell, a former NSA director before taking the job at Booz Allen, was in a position to know. Snowden’s sudden career change had both advantages and disadv

position since the top- secret unit was responsible for discovering and countering the threats posed by Chinese, Russian and other adversary nations. Ledgett was also the logical choice to head the damage assessment investigation since the Center’s regional branch in Hawaii was from where highly-sensitive

ld be devised. New vulnerabilities also could be targeted in enemy territories. Although repairing the damage might take many “decades.” according to Michael McConnell, the Vice Chairman of Booz Allen, the new director had to get on with that task. McConnell, a former NSA director himself, pointed out that the NSA D

the damage might take many “decades.” according to Michael McConnell, the Vice Chairman of Booz Allen, the new director had to get on with that task. McConnell, a former NSA director himself, pointed out that the NSA Director’s “first responsibility is to be the chief cheerleader." Rebuilding the NSA capabil

se “bread crumbs” were missed by the NSA according to its statement. It is within the realm of possibility that the NSA Damage Assessment team under Ledgett falsified its finding to inflate the number of documents that Snowden stole. NSA executives also might have lied to Congress to the same end. But why

with Vanity Fair. “The Snowden Saga,” Vanity Fair, op. cit 9.”” Whatever his motive, he...” Snowden’s obtaining the NSA examination is described by Michael McConnell. See Rachael King, “Ex-NSA Chief Details Snowden's Hiring at Agency, Booz Allen,” Wall Street Journal, February 4, 2014. The extended video of interv

ER TEN Raider of the Inner Sanctum 1.’ They think there’s a smoking gun...”—Bamford. Wired. op. cit. 2.”System for stratifying its data...”—Michael McConnell interview, Rachael King, “Ex-NSA Chief Details Snowden's Hiring at Agency, Booz Allen,” Wall Street Journal, February 4, 2014. 3.” Snowden applied t

ld walk out the door,” Snowden interview, German NDR TV, January 26, 2014. http://www.tagesschau.de/snowden-interview- englisch100.pdf “According to Ledgett, the perpetrator...” Tabassum Zakaria and Warren Strobel, “After 'cataclysmic' Snowden affair, NSA faces winds of change,” Reuters December 13, 2013