Special prosecutor John Durham’s team suggested this week that a technology executive who was hired by a former Clinton campaign attorney may face criminal charges.
“Tech Executive-1,” who was confirmed to be Rodney Joffe, is currently being investigated by Durham’s team, according to a prosecutor. Prosecutors didn’t provide more details.
Joffe had a government contract in 2016, according to DeFilippis, who noted that the statute of limitations for government abuse misconduct charges extends beyond five years. However, it’s not clear if Joffe will be charged or if those charges are being investigated.
DeFilippis’s comments were made in the context of Durham’s case against former Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee attorney Michael Sussmann, who was indicted last year for allegedly making false statements to the FBI. Sussmann has pleaded not guilty, while his attorneys have recently suggested that aspects of Durham’s case are politically motivated.
“Mr. Joffe did not defraud or mislead any branch of the U.S. Government,” the spokesperson said. “Furthermore, the data at issue did not belong to the Government and did not contain private or personal information about any individual, nor was it manipulated in any way.”
Sean Berkowitz, one of Sussmann’s attorneys, argued this week that DeFilippis is trying to pressure Joffe into not providing testimony that could benefit Sussmann. What’s more, he said, prosecutors have shown no evidence that Joffe committed a crime.
“Telling a witness they continue to face criminal liability is federal government overreach,” Berkowitz told the court, according to the newspaper.
More than two months ago, a spokesperson for Joffe confirmed that he’s “Tech Executive-1” as mentioned in several of Durham’s filings.
Those comments were made after Durham alleged that Joffe conducted surveillance operations against former President Donald Trump’s campaign during the 2016 election. Prosecutors also said the surveillance continued after Trump was elected and became president.
Sussmann is accused of lying to then-FBI General Counsel James Baker in late 2016 when he said he wasn’t working for any client while providing the bureau with potentially damning information about Trump, including a now-discredited allegation that there was a secret backchannel between the Trump Organization and a Russian bank.
The Epoch Times has contacted Steven Tyrell, an attorney for Joffe, for comment. Tyrell wasn’t in the courtroom when DeFilippis made his remarks.
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