WikiLeaks Publishes Emails It Claims Were Hacked From CIA Chief's Personal Account

WikiLeaks has come into possession of the contents of CIA chief John Brennan’s email account, the whistleblowing organization claimed Wednesday. In a move that’s sure to make Capitol Hill nervous, a number of alleged documents have been published on the site.

RELEASE: CIA Director John Brennan emails https://t.co/GC22CxkRkV #CIAemails pic.twitter.com/XdjkVPS5GW

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 21, 2015

Although the hacked emails are from Brennan’s “nongovernment” accounts, he occasionally used the address for intelligence-related projects, according to WikiLeaks.

From BBC News:

The media organisation published data purporting to be from the account three hours after it announced it would.

The FBI and Secret Service have been investigating reports Mr Brennan’s account was hacked.

A high school student claimed to be responsible and told the New York Post he found work-related files such as an application for top security clearance.

The alleged hacker, who has remained anonymous, was described by the New York Post newspaper as “a stoner high-school student” who was angry about US foreign policy.

His Twitter account, where he is described as 13 years old, has published redacted images of what appear to be government information.

The documents leaked include one which is unfinished and has the heading “Damaging Leaks of Classified Information”.

High profile leaks including a wealth of diplomatic cables from Wikileaks have dogged the US government in recent years.

The use of private email has become a major issue in recent months for White House hopeful [Hillary] Clinton, since it emerged that she had done so while secretary of state.

Mr Brennan became director of the CIA in 2013 having spent four years as assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism.