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First Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
History Today: When the whistleblower behind the Watergate scandal exposed himself. Who was 'Deep Throat'?
On May 31, 2005, W Mark Felt, the former Associate Director of the US intelligence agency FBI, revealed himself as the secret source named 'Deep Throat' that exposed the Watergate scandal in the US. The official secretly cooperated with Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein to expose the scandal that led to President Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974 read more More than 30 years after the Watergate scandal rocked the United States, W Mark Felt, once the Associate Director of the US intelligence agency FBI, publicly revealed in 2005 that he had been the mysterious source known as 'Deep Throat.' AP May 31 is remembered as a turning point in American political history, especially for those who remember the political storm that was Watergate. In 2005, more than three decades after the Watergate scandal shook the foundations of the White House and led to President Richard Nixon's resignation, the secret source behind the exposé known only as 'Deep Throat' finally revealed his identity. Meanwhile, back in 1962, Adolf Eichmann, a key architect of Adolf Hitler's Holocaust, was executed in Israel following his conviction for crimes against humanity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. Here's a look at what made headlines on May 31. When former FBI Assistant Director revealed himself as 'Deep Throat' More than 30 years after the Watergate scandal rocked the United States, W Mark Felt, once the Associate Director of the US intelligence agency FBI , publicly revealed in 2005 that he had been the mysterious source known as 'Deep Throat.' It was Felt's secret cooperation with Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein that played a vital role in exposing the Watergate scandal, which eventually led to President Richard Nixon 's resignation in 1974. The Watergate scandal eventually led to President Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974. AP Although there had long been speculation about his identity, Felt had always denied any involvement. 'I never leaked information to Woodward and Bernstein or to anyone else,' he wrote in his 1979 memoir. Even as late as 1999, just six years before his confession, a then 91-year-old Felt told reporters, 'It would be contrary to my responsibility as a loyal employee of the FBI to leak information.' Felt's motivation to leak secret info was rooted in his frustration. After the death of longtime FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, Felt had hoped to be named as Hoover's successor. But Nixon passed him over, and tensions escalated as the White House attempted to interfere with the FBI's Watergate investigation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD When Bob Woodward reached out to Felt for help, the veteran FBI official agreed, but only under strict conditions. Felt wouldn't be quoted, not even anonymously. He refused to offer any new information and only confirmed what the reporters already knew. And above all, his identity had to remain under wraps. Woodward and Bernstein only contacted him for matters they deemed absolutely essential. Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward at work in 1973. AP At first, they spoke over the phone. But as concerns about tapped lines grew, the pair came up with a system of signals and began meeting secretly in a parking garage in the dead of night. Felt's eventual reveal came via an article in Vanity Fair, much to the surprise of Woodward and Bernstein, who had vowed to protect his identity until his death. He died on December 18, 2008, at the age of 95. When the architect of Holocaust was executed in Israel On this day in 1962, Adolf Eichmann , a high-ranking Nazi official and one of the principal organisers of Adolf Hitler's Holocaust, was executed for his crimes against humanity in Israel. Eichmann played a key role in implementing the so-called 'Final Solution,' the Nazis' plan to systematically exterminate the Jewish population. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He was tasked with coordinating the identification, rounding up, and deportation of millions of Jews from Nazi-occupied Europe to death camps. There, they were either gassed or worked until they died. Eichmann performed his duties with chilling efficiency. Between three to four million Jews died in the extermination camps under his direction, and an additional two million were killed elsewhere. Adolf Eichmann, a high-ranking Nazi official and one of the principal organisers of Adolf Hitler's Holocaust, was executed for his crimes against humanity in Israel. Image courtesy: The National World War II Mueseum After the war, Eichmann was captured by American troops. But he managed to escape custody, moving secretly through Europe and eventually the Middle East. By 1950, he had slipped into Argentina, then known for its relaxed immigration policies and reputation as a haven for former Nazi officials, where he assumed the false identity of Ricardo Klement. In 1957, a German prosecutor passed a tip to Israeli authorities that Eichmann was alive and hiding in Argentina. Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, launched a covert mission. On May 11, they made their move. As Eichmann walked home from a bus stop along Garibaldi Street, Mossad agents snatched him and took him to a safe house. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nine days later, he was smuggled out of Argentina, heavily sedated and disguised as a crew member of an Israeli airline who had supposedly suffered a head injury. On May 23, Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion went public with the shocking news: Eichmann was in Israeli custody. Argentina protested, demanding his return. But Israel insisted that Eichmann's role as a war criminal gave them every right to put him on trial. The proceedings began on April 11, 1961, in Jerusalem, marking the first time a trial was broadcast on television. Eichmann faced 15 charges, including war crimes, crimes against the Jewish people, and crimes against humanity. He claimed he was merely following orders, but the court didn't buy it. He was executed by hanging near Tel Aviv. His remains were cremated, and his ashes were scattered at sea.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Porn star says his career was destroyed by false claims he nearly killed a dog with meth
A prominent gay porn star is accusing a pair of former business partners of sullying his reputation by posting 'extreme' false claims about him on social media, including that he nearly killed a dog on a film set by feeding it meth. In a bombshell lawsuit filed last Friday, Robert Owen Felt, who is known professionally as Owen Hawk, says the claim — along with allegations that he is a 'sex offender,' 'engaged in domestic violence,' and 'committ[ed] fraud and other crimes — is not only false, but has also largely put the brakes on his 20-plus-year career. Felt's complaint names Damian Todaro, the owner of PPVNetwork, a hardcore streaming service, and Todaro's boyfriend, identified in court papers only as 'Elvis,' as the perpetrators of an 'extreme and outrageous' defamation campaign against him following a work dispute last year. As a result, Felt's professional opportunities have dwindled to the point that he has 'been forced to liquidate his retirement funds to survive and defend himself,' according to the complaint. On Tuesday, Felt told The Independent that in 2024, he earned 'well over $500,000,' but that now his income has dropped to less than $1,000 a month and he is afraid of being evicted from his home. He said he has spent years building a brand, and that it has been excruciating to see it stripped away. 'It's been really painful,' Felt said. 'It's a lot of loss to process. I haven't been able to draw a salary in five months, I've fallen behind on my rent… It just seems unbelievably unfair that I should have to be in this situation, while people who I considered to be friends get to go on with all the value I created [for the company] for themselves. In what world is that possibly fair?' Attorney Wesley Mullen, who is representing Todaro and Elvis, declined to comment on the case. In 2005, Felt, who also directs, founded Dark Alley Media, a production and distribution company that 'has since become a recognized leader in the adult content industry, with a library of over 300 titles and numerous awards,' his complaint states. It describes Owen Hawk, Felt's alter ego, as 'a public figure' who has 'built a reputation for professionalism and excellence in the industry,' and boasts more than 250,000 followers on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter. Felt's peers have long 'recognized… his contributions and success,' according to the complaint, which notes the 45-year-old was recently honored with a spot on the Grabby Awards' 'Wall of Fame.' For the past several years, Dark Alley Media has partnered in a joint venture with PPVNetwork, with Dark Alley contributing original video content, connections to performers, and 'industry expertise,' the complaint goes on. PPVNetwork, for its part, was responsible for providing website hosting, billing, and customer service, the complaint explains. But, in April 2024, the relationship between Dark Alley and PPVNetwork began to deteriorate, intensifying through summer and fall, and finally fell apart altogether last November, the complaint continues. That's when, it alleges, Todaro and Elvis launched a scheme to ruin him. On X, according to the complaint, an account with the handle '@rawf**kclub,' a trademarked name previously used by the Dark Alley-PPVNetwork joint venture, posted, 'Make sure @owenhawk is sober on set… He has a parole officer to report too [sic].' Someone then began submitting bogus takedown notices to the Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network (AEBN), a video-on-demand provider with which Felt had a lucrative exclusive contract, under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the complaint states. It says the DMCA notice claimed that a video uploaded by 'Owen Hawk' included 'non-consensual sex,' as well as 'underage… non-consensual behavior,' and branded him a 'felon,' before going on to threaten AEBN's credit card processor. Additionally, the complaint says a YouTuber going by '@musclef*k1225' posted a comment that read: 'Owen Hawk committed illegal activities and was terminated. He is not being Honest!... he is a DRUG ADDICT and nearly killed someones [sic] dog by dropping a METH baggie on the floor… Owen Hawk tried killing my dog with METH.' Felt claims he was also accused of being a domestic abuser, a sex predator, and a con artist, according to the complaint. Felt's complaint accuses Elvis of spreading the false claims, under Todaro's supervision, and roping in others to post false allegations about Hawk and submit their own phony takedown notices. At least one of the DMCA notices was allegedly submitted from an IP address that Felt's complaint claims was geolocated to Bayshore, New York, a Long Island hamlet across the bay from Fire Island, where Todaro and Elvis have a home. In December 2024, according to the complaint, Felt was dropped by AEBN, 'citing these false claims and threats to its credit card processor,' striking at the heart of Felt's primary income stream. 'As a result of Defendant's actions, [Dark Alley Media] has suffered financial losses, reputational damage, and interference with its ability to monetize its content,' the complaint states. Felt is now asking a judge to award him attorneys' fees, compensatory damages and punitive damages in an amount to be determined at trial, and a court order barring Todaro and Elvis from defaming him in the future. Todaro and Elvis now have roughly three weeks to file a formal response to Felt's claims.
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The Independent
04-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Porn star says his career was destroyed by false claims he nearly killed a dog with meth
A prominent gay porn star is accusing a pair of former business partners of sullying his reputation by posting 'extreme' false claims about him on social media, including that he nearly killed a dog on a film set by feeding it meth. In a bombshell lawsuit filed last Friday, Robert Owen Felt, who is known professionally as Owen Hawk, says the claim — along with accusations that he is a 'sex offender,' 'engaged in domestic violence,' and 'committ[ed] fraud and other crimes — is not only false, but has also largely put the brakes on his 20-plus-year career. Felt's complaint names Damian Todaro, the owner of PPVNetwork, a hardcore streaming service, and Todaro's boyfriend, identified in court papers only as 'Elvis,' as the perpetrators of an 'extreme and outrageous' defamation campaign against him following a work dispute last year. As a result, Felt's professional opportunities have dwindled to the point that he has 'been forced to liquidate his retirement funds to survive and defend himself,' according to the complaint. On Tuesday, Felt told The Independent that in 2024, he earned 'well over $500,000,' but that now his income has dropped to less than $1,000 a month and he is afraid of being evicted from his home. He said he has spent years building a brand, and that it has been excruciating to see it stripped away. 'It's been really painful,' Felt said. 'It's a lot of loss to process. I haven't been able to draw a salary in five months, I've fallen behind on my rent… It just seems unbelievably unfair that I should have to be in this situation, while people who I considered to be friends get to go on with all the value I created [for the company] for themselves. In what world is that possibly fair?' Attorney Wesley Mullen, who is representing Todaro and Elvis, declined to comment on the case. In 2005, Felt, who also directs, founded Dark Alley Media, a production and distribution company that 'has since become a recognized leader in the adult content industry, with a library of over 300 titles and numerous awards,' his complaint states. It describes Owen Hawk, Felt's alter ego, as 'a public figure' who has 'built a reputation for professionalism and excellence in the industry,' and boasts more than 250,000 followers on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter. Felt's peers have long 'recognized… his contributions and success,' according to the complaint, which notes the 45-year-old was recently honored with a spot on the Grabby Awards' ' Wall of Fame.' For the past several years, Dark Alley Media has partnered in a joint venture with PPVNetwork, with Dark Alley contributing original video content, connections to performers, and 'industry expertise,' the complaint goes on. PPVNetwork, for its part, was responsible for providing website hosting, billing, and customer service, the complaint explains. But, in April 2024, the relationship between Dark Alley and PPVNetwork began to deteriorate, intensifying through summer and fall, and finally fell apart altogether last November, the complaint continues. That's when, it alleges, Todaro and Elvis launched a scheme to ruin him. On X, according to the complaint, an account with the handle '@rawf**kclub,' a trademarked name previously used by the Dark Alley-PPVNetwork joint venture, posted, 'Make sure @owenhawk is sober on set… He has a parole officer to report too [sic].' Someone then began submitting bogus takedown notices to the Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network (AEBN), a video-on-demand provider with which Felt had a lucrative exclusive contract, under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the complaint states. It says the DMCA notice claimed that a video uploaded by 'Owen Hawk' included 'non-consensual sex,' as well as 'underage… non-consensual behavior,' and branded him a 'felon,' before going on to threaten AEBN's credit card processor. Additionally, the complaint says a YouTuber going by '@musclef*k1225' posted a comment that read: 'Owen Hawk committed illegal activities and was terminated. He is not being Honest!... he is a DRUG ADDICT and nearly killed someones [sic] dog by dropping a METH baggie on the floor… Owen Hawk tried killing my dog with METH.' Felt claims he was also accused of being a domestic abuser, a sex predator, and a con artist, according to the complaint. Felt's complaint accuses Elvis of spreading the false claims, under Todaro's supervision, and roping in others to post false allegations about Hawk and submit their own phony takedown notices. At least one of the DMCA notices was allegedly submitted from an IP address that Felt's complaint claims was geolocated to Bayshore, New York, a Long Island hamlet across the bay from Fire Island, where Todaro and Elvis have a home. In December 2024, according to the complaint, Felt was dropped by AEBN, 'citing these false claims and threats to its credit card processor,' striking at the heart of Felt's primary income stream. 'As a result of Defendant's actions, [Dark Alley Media] has suffered financial losses, reputational damage, and interference with its ability to monetize its content,' the complaint states. Felt is now asking a judge to award him attorneys' fees, compensatory damages and punitive damages in an amount to be determined at trial, and a court order barring Todaro and Elvis from defaming him in the future. Todaro and Elvis now have roughly three weeks to file a formal response to Felt's claims.
