Rep. Johnson demands investigation into evidence journalists were targeted

Congressman: U.S. journalists investigating Information Operations contractor may have been targeted in reputation attack campaign

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) today questioned the effectiveness of Department of Defense (DOD) spending on “Information Operations” and urged the Pentagon to launch a full investigation into evidence that U.S. journalists investigating an Information Operations contractor were targeted in a disinformation and reputation attack campaign.

In February, two journalists with USA Today, Tom Vanden Brook and Ray Locker, reported that DOD Information Operations (IO) programs – which include psychological operations, public relations, and some aspects of cyber warfare – are poorly overseen, wasteful, and ineffective.

The USA Today report included information regarding leading IO contractor Leonie Industries, whose owners reportedly had little or no experience in military contracting and owed millions in federal taxes but nevertheless received $145 million in DOD contracts between 2009 and 2012.

After launching their investigation, the USA Today journalists who spearheaded the investigation were targeted in a disinformation and reputation attack campaign using fake Twitter and Facebook accounts impersonating the journalists, the unauthorized registration of web domains using the journalists’ name and publication of content purporting to represent their views, and the proliferation of false and damaging content attacking the journalists on multiple web site.

One such attack even alleged that Mr. Vanden Brook might have been an agent of the Taliban.

“We face the disturbing possibility that a federal defense contractor that specializes in information and psychological operations may have targeted American journalists,” said Johnson. “And it may have done so using taxpayer dollars and tactics developed to counter the influence of adversaries such as al Qaeda and the Taliban.”

In remarks during debate of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, Johnson threatened an amendment to cut all $122 million in funding for Information Operations in the Overseas Contingency Operations budget.

Johnson then called upon the Department of Defense to:

 launch an immediate investigation of this matter,
 to refer any evidence of criminal activity to the Attorney General,
 and to consider suspending all contracts with Leonie Industries until such investigation is complete.

“Rest assured, I will follow up with the Department of Defense and possibly the Department of Justice to demand a full investigation of the disturbing evidence before us.”

For a video of Congressman Johnson’s full statement, click HERE.

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