The FBI has searched the homes of several high-profile figures in Florida as part of an investigation into a computer hacking at Fox News.
The Tampa Bay Times is reporting that FBI agents searched the homes of media consultant Tim Burke and his wife, and Democrat Tampa City Council member Lynn Hurtak.
The hack resulted in internal, behind-the-scenes videos of former Fox News star Tucker Carlson being released to news outlets.
Carlson and his team initially thought it was Paul Ryan or another member of the Fox Board leaking to hurt him as his exit negotiations with the network stalled.
However, authorities later found evidence that Fox has been hacked and the footage was stolen by several left-wing operatives in Florida.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Trezevant wrote a letter asking Fox News to preserve information and records related to the investigation for a period of at least 90 days.
Fox is “one of the potential victim-witnesses,” Trezevant’s letter states.
“Burke’s business website has been offline since the day of the search. A prolific Twitter user, he also has not posted any tweets since the search.”
“According to the reporting, the FBI searched the home of media consultant Tim Burke — a former Deadspin and Daily Beast writer known on Twitter as @bubbaprog — in connection with the investigation.”
— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) May 26, 2023
Ruh-Roh
As recent events have shown (leak of ABC News footage with Amy Robach), interceptions of proprietary TV-network video are often easy to track….https://t.co/simYaqx1lk
— Brian Steinberg (@bristei) May 26, 2023
Tampa Bay Times scoop: “An FBI search earlier this month at the home of media consultant Tim Burke (@bubbaprog) … stemmed from an investigation of alleged computer intrusions and intercepted communications at the Fox News Network.” https://t.co/UU5in9RUVM
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 26, 2023
According to The Tampa Bay Times:
“The investigation, according to the letter, concerns allegations of unauthorized computer access; interception of wire, oral or electronic communication; conspiracy; and other federal crimes.
“Trezevant is assigned to the criminal probe and is listed on court filings related to the search at Burke and Hurtak’s home.
“Burke, 44, has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
“A nationally recognized media figure, he runs Burke Communications, a media and political consulting company that produces an array of content.
“He also has worked for the online news outlets Deadspin and the Daily Beast, and is a member of Jobsite Theater’s board of directors.
“He managed his wife’s recent successful campaign for Tampa City Council.”