[ISN] Political firm fears sheikh's files were hacked

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/07/MNIU1DQ1PL.DTL

By Carla Marinucci
San Francisco Chronicle
Chronicle Political Writer
June 8, 2010

In a mysterious case of cyber-espionage, a leading California political 
consulting firm has asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to 
investigate what it says appears to be computer hacking involving a 
high-profile client, an ousted Middle Eastern sheikh, which the firm 
says could compromise "sensitive information relating to U.S. and 
Iranian security issues."

Jason Kinney, who heads California Strategies, made the request to 
Holder and the U.S. attorney's office last week after it appeared 
hackers had accessed the Sacramento consulting firm's computer files 
relating to their client, Sheikh Khalid bin Saqr Al Qasimi.

Kinney and two other leading Democratic strategists, former White House 
spokesman Chris Lehane and Peter Ragone, the former spokesman for San 
Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, represent the royal client.

The sheikh - the legally recognized deputy ruler and crown prince of Ras 
al Khaimah, one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab 
Emirates - was deposed from power in 2003 by more conservative factions, 
including his brother, after being criticized as too friendly to the 
United States.

[...]


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