Latest news with #TexasGOP
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ unseals charges against 'Anonymous' co-founder for 2021 Texas GOP data theft
The Department of Justice has unsealed charges against a man reported to be one of the co-founders of "hacktivist" collective Anonymous for allegedly hacking the Texas GOP website in 2021. Aubrey Cottle, 37, was arrested and charged in connection to the theft of data from the Texas Republican Party and the defacement of the party's official website on Sept. 11, 2021, according to federal court records unsealed last week. Cottle is a security researcher and co-founder of the worldwide hacking group Anonymous, according to records. The records alleged the hackers claimed to be with Anonymous and replaced the website's banner with cartoon characters, a music video and a pornographic image. The hackers also got unauthorized access to Texas GOP data, including personal identifying information that was distributed and made available online. Court records said Cottle claimed responsibility on social media and investigators found the stolen data in his possession. The FBI worked alongside the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada to execute a search warrant and gathered 20 terabytes worth of data from Cottle's home. Cottle was charged under Canadian law for "unlawfully transferring, possessing or using a means of identification with the intent to commit, or aid or abet, or in connection with, unlawful activity under state or federal law." He faces up to five years in prison This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 'Anonymous' co-founder charged for 2021 Texas GOP data theft
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anonymous hacker group ‘co-founder' arrested, tied to 2021 Texas GOP web hack
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Unsealed federal court records revealed 'a security researcher and co-founder of Anonymous,' which is a worldwide hacking group, has been arrested in Canada and accused of allegedly hacking the Texas GOP website ( on Sept. 11, 2021. According to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, Aubrey Cottle, 37, is being charged with 'unlawfully transferring, possessing, or using a means of identification with the intent to commit, or aid or abet, or in connection with, unlawful activity under state or federal law. No attorney has been listed for Cottle at this time. The charges were filed in Austin federal court. Federal records state the hackers claimed to be with the group known as 'Anonymous,' who replaced the website's banner with cartoon characters, a pornographic image, and a music video and gained unauthorized access to Texas GOP data. 'Cottle allegedly claimed responsibility for the attack on social media,' according to court records. Court records show the Federal Bureau of Investigation worked with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Canada, to execute a search warrant at Cottle's residence, where they seized approximately 20 terabytes of data. A search of the digital evidence revealed Cottle was in possession of the data stolen from the Texas GOP, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. If convicted, Cottle faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, according to the DOJ. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
