ANONYMOUS
Hackers threaten to reveal the ‘real reason’ John Baird left politics.
Hackers with Anonymous — who this week leaked a seemingly legitimate secret document on cybersecurity at Canada’s spy agency — threatened Wednesday to release decrypted text messages from former foreign affairs minister John Baird allegedly showing the “real reason” why he abruptly left politics.
The warning was made in social media from an account the National Post confirms is one operated by activists responsible for the CSIS leak.
No evidence was presented by the hacktivists to support the claim.
When reached by the Post, Baird declined to comment on the warning. Requests for comment to the Department of Foreign Affairs went unanswered.
No timeline was given for any potential release.
Baird, who was one of the highest-profile members of Stephen Harper’s cabinet, quit suddenly in February to join the private sector.
Announcing his resignation with optimism for “the next chapter in my life,” Baird appeared to be heading to Bay Street, where he indeed found himself in demand.
The month after leaving office, he was hired as an international adviser to Barrick Gold Corp. and nominated to the board of directors of Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. In May he joined law firm Bennett Jones LLP as a senior adviser. At the time, when opposition critics questioned his moves, he said he consulted the ethics commissioner and “got the green light.”
The Twitter account @OpAnonDown — named in honour of its professed mission of seeking justice for an Anonymous protester shot and killed by the RCMP during a confrontation in Dawson Creek, B.C. — said text messages and a video are pending for release on Baird’s exit.
The hackers behind that account leaked a document on Monday marked secret and purported to be from the Treasury Board of Canada. It revealed previously unknown details of the foreign stations of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
The government has not debunked the CSIS information, however, the National Post has not been able to independently verify its legitimacy.
At an event in Taylor, B.C., Wednesday, the Alaska High- way News asked Tony Clement, president of the Treasury Board of Canada, about the apparent leak.
“I don’t comment on the veracity of leaked documents,” the newspaper quotes him saying. “Let me just say this … we treat any and all breaches very seriously. While this Anonymous group has kind of a clownish way of going about its advocacy and business, these are very serious issues.”
In response, a spokesperson for the hackers told the Post: “We are filled with all kinds of pleasures that Tony Clement blocked us on Twitter then called us ‘clownish.’
“Court jesters, clowns and political comedians have always been able to tell truths where others cannot.”
The CBC reported that the leak the Post revealed is now subject to a probe by the RCMP and the Communications Security Establishment (CSE). Neither agency would confirm this.
“Only in the event that an investigation results in the laying of criminal charges would the RCMP confirm its investigation,” said Sgt. Harold Pfleiderer, a spokesman for the RCMP’s national headquarters.
“Also, it would be inappropriate for the RCMP to comment on documents that are leaked and/or that do not originate from our organization.”
The CSE referred calls to Public Safety, which, in turn, had no new information it would impart.
Baird had a successful political life spanning two decades, first in Ontario provincial politics and then in the federal realm. He became known for his tremendous energy, partisanship and quick tongue as he defended his government.
He was foreign minister for more than three years prior to his resignation.
(Anonymous) has kind of a clownish way of going about its advocacy