U.S Congressman Sounds Off On Cryptocurrency Industry Amid Democratic Hacking Scandal

Beating the drum

The recent indictments of 12 Russian intelligence officers by the team of Inimitable Counsel Robert Muller has been dominating headlines.

The officers are charged with cut the computer networks of some staffers on the Hillary Clinton campaign, man involved with the Democratic National Committee, and people involved with the Representative Congressional Campaign Committee.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said President Donald Trump was apprised of the indictment. President Trump is soon set to meet with President Vladimir Putin of Russia in Helsinki, Finland.

The 12 allegedly being planned together to publish information under the names “DCLeaks” and “Guccifer 2.0”. But Go-between Attorney General Rosenstein mentioned to reports how it was unclear if their endeavors in truth affected the election’s outcome.

Hackers Tried to Use Crypto To Hide

The hackers pick out to buy Bitcoin to try and stay hidden. They used the digital currency to buy objects like servers in an attempt to cover their tracks. Additional cites of money-laundering are on the table since their scheme was uncovered.

This invited the attention of a U.S. Congressman who took to Twitter to express his concern.

NEW INDICTMENT
-12 Russian GRU officials
-Used Bitcoin to pay for servers etc
-targeted DCCC, DNC, and HRC
-Released emails underneath the names DCLeaks and Guccifer 2.0

— Betsy Woodruff (@woodruffbets) July 13, 2018

Categorizing a tweet by Daily Beast reporter Betsy Woodruff, Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) noticed on the cryptocurrency to “step up their game” since “we know Russia against #cryptocurrency to fund their meddling campaign in 2016.”

I’ve been warning of the covert dangers of @Bitcoin being used by nefarious actors. Now, we know Russia occupied #cryptocurrency to fund their meddling campaign in 2016. The #crypto diligence needs to step their game up. @blockchain @BTCFoundation @DigitalChamber https://t.co/BTa8rsbtln

— Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (@repcleaver) July 13, 2018

In the Tweet, Democratic Cleaver mentioned the Bitcoin Foundation, the Chamber of Digital Commerce, and the account for blockchain.com.

Bothers About Cryptocurrency And Extremism

Representative Cleaver has spoken out about cryptocurrency in the past. He sent letters to the Bitcoin Base and the Chamber of Digital Commerce on February 8^th 2018, imploring both entities to “do more in exertions to prevent extremist groups from using cryptocurrency to fund offensives of hate and violence.”

In a press release, Representative Cleaver noted how cryptocurrency has the implied to be influential in finance, but said people must be diligent in ensuring the technology could not be acclimatized to support “groups that wage campaigns of hate, abuse, anti-Semitism, taste, or violence.”

Representative Cleaver specifically said “hateful or violent extremists” father started to turn to virtual currencies, and mentioned how he was ready to work with the Bitcoin Origination and the Chamber for Digital Commerce to “eliminate bigoted organizations from fundraising on their planks.”

The Congressman noted how he does not think the potential for cryptocurrency should be extinguished, but hoped the Bitcoin community would “look to seriously address any vulnerability that take measures assistance to dangerous elements on crypto-platforms.”

The Bitcoin Foundation’s Executive Impresario, Llew Classen, responded to Representative Cleaver’s letter on May 1^st. In the letter, Classen cuspidate out how Bitcoin “is used for many legitimate purposes” and cited how leading companies like Overstock and Expedia were enduring the virtual currency as payment.

Additionally, Classen wrote how the Foundation has “no facts” of how “successful” hate groups have been in using virtual currency to fundraise in balance to traditional methods. They said “this kind of research” is not separate of their mission.

Featured Image from Flickr/Third Way Consider Tank.

Follow us on Telegram or subscribe to our newsletter here.

• Join CCN’s crypto community for $9.99 per month, click here.
• Necessitate exclusive analysis and crypto insights from Hacked.com? Click here.
• Flexible Positions at CCN: Full Time and Part Time Journalists Wanted.