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Comment by lhnz | Hacker News Reader

Does this connect to the other report about Julian Assange's internet [0] being cut by state powers? It is honestly really difficult to believe that this is a coincidence. And, although obviously this opinion is completely circumstantial, perhaps a clearer head should look closer.

If it is the US government moving to constrain other powerful media establishments that could counter their voice, it does make you wonder what they are so worried about being released.

Are the emails really so bad they could lose Hillary the election? That would surprise me.

I guess what is particularly strange to me, is why do this now? If they knew they were badly exposed, surely they could have taken action a long while ago when the spotlight on their activity was lower.

[0] https://twitter.com/wikileaks/status/787889195507417088 (HN comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12722929)

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The shortest distance between two lines being a great circle, I'd look towards Ukraine for the likely explanation; given that HMG referred The Guardian to the Treasury, RBS probably was made aware that there are sanctions either on RT or people or organizations connected to it. Keep an eye on the Consolidated List of Targets (UK's OFAC List, essentially) for additions over the next week or so -- that's likely to be the source of the rationale.

(Addition: Also, if Assange is using the embassy's network access, then I would be dubious of any claims that it's been "cut off," as the UK FO isn't going to willfully violate Vienna Convention strictures over Wikileaks, at least not without a stiffly worded demarche and a whole lot of legal cover.)

> If it is the US government moving to constrain other powerful media establishments that could counter their voice, it does make you wonder what they are so worried about being released. > Are the emails really so bad they could lose Hillary the election? That would surprise me.

I think who the leaks hurt or don't hurt isn't really the problem. The problem is that a foreign power is selectively leaking data from one political party in order to influence the outcome of the election. It would be just as bad, imo, if they were leaking Trump and the RNC's emails.

John Kerry's name appearing in the recent SHA256 checksums[0] might have spooked them, but it's entirely conjecture at this point.

[0] pre-commitment 1: John Kerry 4bb96075acadc3d80b5ac872874c3037a386f4f595fe99e687439aabd0219809

This also my be relevant:

pre-commitment 2: Ecuador eae5c9b064ed649ba468f0800abf8b56ae5cfe355b93b1ce90a1b92a48a9ab7

pre-commitment 3: UK FCO f33a6de5c627e3270ed3e02f62cd0c857467a780cf6123d2172d80d02a072f74

claim from intelAnon that Ecuador had caved in to pressure from the Clintons:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cu7pNidVIAAUweO.jpg:large

The hashes then being a message from Assange, or it my be Assange being paranoid.. Or something else entirely.

Not to mention the UK Foreign Office checksum [0]. UK has so far been relatively unscathed by wikileaks. If the 3 pre-commits refer to the 2013 insurance files, then the Foreign office could be royally buggered. The corresponding file is 320gb.

[0] pre-commitment 3: UK FCO f33a6de5c627e3270ed3e02f62cd0c857467a780cf6123d2172d80d02a072f74

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