***FLYNN paid by Russian CYBERSECURITY firm, Kaspersky Labs, while he had top secret clearance***

[pnwmom]

Last edited Tue May 9, 2017, 05:28 AM - Edit history (4)

As bad as it was that Flynn was taking money from Russian Television, it may be worse that he took a smaller payment from a Russian cyber-security firm, Kaspersky labs -- that has worked, among other things, on VOTING MACHINE SECURITY.

Kaspersky Labs claims to be unconnected with the Russian government -- so why did they pay Michael Flynn, consultant, $11,250 for a speech? He knows nothing about cybersecurity. What did he have to offer Kaspersky?

https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/16/kaspersky-michael-flynn/

According to its website, the U.S. arm of Kaspersky Lab “designs, implements and delivers holistic cybersecurity services and solutions for the U.S. government, U.S. government contractors and the U.S. National Critical Infrastructure sector.”

SNIP

Kaspersky is one of the most prominent names in cybersecurity, but the firm has faced scrutiny in the past over founder Eugene Kaspersky’s speculated ties to Russian intelligence agencies. According to the company, Kaspersky Lab “has no ties to any government, but the company is proud to collaborate with the authorities of many countries, as well as international law enforcement agencies in the fight against cybercrime.”

The documents were published today by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, accompanied by a letter from ranking Democrat, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings.

“I cannot recall any time in our nation’s history when the President selected as his National Security Advisor someone who violated the Constitution by accepting tens of thousands of dollars from an agent of a global adversary that attacked our democracy,” he wrote.

http://www.businessinsider.com/mike-flynn-and-russia-2017-3

Retired Gen. Michael Flynn was paid $11,250 by Russia's top cybersecurity firm, Kaspersky, in 2015, according to new documents obtained and published by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Thursday. Flynn was also paid $11,250 by the Russian charter cargo airline Volga-Dnepr Airlines, according to the documents.

Flynn was paid for his work with both companies while he still had top-secret-level security clearance, a year after he was fired as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, The Wall Street Journal's Shane Harris reported.

Kaspersky said in a statement provided to Business Insider that the company had "paid Gen. Flynn a speaker fee for remarks at the 2015 Government Cybersecurity Forum in Washington, DC."

______________________________

More about new US concerns about Kaspersky labs here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141769420

[Hekate]

1. That SOB is going to prison, isn't he?

[Ninsianna]

3. Given he's a spiteful SOB, hopefully he'll be taking his cohorts with him.

[still_one]

2. This should also concern people because Kaspersy sells anti-virus software to consumers

[pnwmom]

4. Yes! They've got digital fingers in every pot. nt

[BadgerMom]

5. The firm's head (founder?) was one of the early post-election victims of Putin's wrath.

I'll look for the link. But he worked for/with the Russian government and was arrested early in the purge.

Here's a link:

https://arstechnica.com/security/2017/01/kaspersky-labs-top-investigator-reportedly-arrested-in-treason-probe/

It was Kaspersky Labs chief investigator. He was arrested on charges of treason in Russia in January 2017.

[pnwmom]

6. Probably not the head or the founder -- that is Eugene Kaspersky. But one of its employees

was arrested for treason for working with the US on cybercrime.

Which tends to prove that the Russian government views the Lab as an adjunct to the government, not a private, independent company.

[BadgerMom]

7. You're correct

I added the link to my comment

[pnwmom]

8. Thanks! n/t

[Ghost Dog]

9. From your link:

"The case against this employee does not involve Kaspersky Lab," company officials wrote in a statement issued following the report. "The employee, who is Head of the Computer Incidents Investigation Team, is under investigation for a period predating his employment at Kaspersky Lab.