Senate

Capitol Police arrest suspect in doxing of GOP senators

by Emily Birnbaum - 10/03/18 7:17 PM ET

U.S. Capitol Police on Wednesday arrested a suspect for allegedly “doxing” one or more GOP senators by posting their private information online.

The suspect, 27-year-old Jackson Cosko of Washington, D.C., has been charged with publicizing restricted personal information, witness tampering, second-degree burglary, threatening interstate communications, unauthorized use of a government computer, identity theft, and unlawful entry, according to a Wednesday press release.

Cosko has been identified as a former intern for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas). He previously worked for Democratic Sens. Maggie Hassan (N.H.) and Barbara Boxer (Calif.).

{mosads}The Capitol Police said an investigation is ongoing, but declined to answer The Hill’s requests for comment.

Reports emerged last week that someone from within the U.S. House of Representatives had posted the home addresses and personal cell phone numbers of GOP Sens. Orrin Hatch (Utah), Mike Lee (Utah) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.) on Wikipedia.

The anonymous Wikipedia edits were made as the three senators questioned Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh during his Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last Thursday.

Kavanaugh was testifying alongside Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in 1982.

The edits were posted by the @congressedits, a Twitter account which automatically tweets edits made to Wikipedia pages from Capitol Hill computers. The Twitter account was suspended for posting personal information.

— Updated Oct. 4, 4:19 p.m.

Tags Barbara Boxer Lindsey Graham Maggie Hassan Mike Lee Orrin Hatch Sheila Jackson Lee