A foreign hacker reportedly breached an FBI server in 2023 and accessed files connected to the investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The breach occurred inside the FBI’s New York Field Office and involved a government server used by the bureau’s Child Exploitation Forensic Lab.
According to a report citing sources familiar with the incident, the hacker gained access to the system on February 12, 2023.
Investigators later determined the intruder had been combing through files tied to the Epstein investigation.
The identity and nationality of the hacker have not been publicly disclosed.
Sources familiar with the incident said the individual appeared to be a cybercriminal rather than a state-sponsored intelligence operative.
The intrusion reportedly happened after a server was accidentally left vulnerable to outside access.
The system had been handled by Special Agent Aaron Spivack, who was navigating procedures for managing digital evidence.
Spivack reportedly discovered the breach the following day when he arrived at work on February 13 and saw a warning message that his network had been compromised.
The timeline of the incident does not reveal exactly which files were accessed or whether any data was downloaded.
It also remains unclear how long the hacker had access to the system before the breach was detected.
The FBI later moved to shut down the intrusion.
In a statement, a bureau spokesperson said the agency restricted access to the malicious actor and secured the affected network.
Officials also confirmed that the investigation into the breach remains ongoing.
The FBI declined to provide additional details about the case.
Spivack reportedly told investigators that he believed he was being made a scapegoat for the security lapse, per the Daily Mail.
He argued that the breach was the result of poor information technology practices and miscommunication within the bureau.
One unusual detail in the report involved the hacker’s reaction after realizing what files were on the server.
According to a source familiar with the situation, the intruder claimed they were disturbed by the presence of child abuse material connected to the investigation.
The hacker reportedly threatened to report the FBI employee whose server had been breached to federal authorities.
Officials eventually convinced the hacker they were speaking with legitimate law enforcement agents.
They reportedly invited the individual to a video call and displayed official credentials to prove they were members of the FBI.
Experts say files tied to Epstein could be valuable targets for foreign intelligence services.
Epstein had connections to powerful individuals across politics, finance, and entertainment, which has fueled years of speculation surrounding the case.
Jeffrey Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
His case continues to generate controversy and conspiracy theories about the powerful people who may have been connected to him.
The report about the cyber breach surfaced as investigators also revisited allegations tied to Epstein’s former New Mexico property known as Zorro Ranch.
Authorities have examined claims that crimes may have occurred at the property, though some of those allegations remain disputed.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer recently said there are still many unanswered questions about how the federal government handled the Epstein investigation.
He argued that earlier investigations into Epstein’s activities may have been halted prematurely.
As the FBI continues investigating the cyber breach, officials have not said whether the hacker obtained any sensitive information from the Epstein files.
