A Russian bank under investigation for possible ties to the Trump Organization has threatened at least one security researcher with a lawsuit over the dissemination of data that point to a server connection between the bank and the first family’s conglomerate.
In a document obtained by CyberScoop, Alfa Bank notified Indiana University computer researcher L. Jean Camp that it’s pursuing “all available options” after Camp’s research suggested the bank engaged in some form of communication with the Trump Organization. Washington-based law firm Kirkland & Ellis sent the letter on the bank’s behalf on March 17.
Among the options listed is litigation under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act’s civil action provision, which allows companies to sue for damages in the event of unauthorized computer access. Foreign entities can bring cases to U.S. federal courts under a CFAA provision that allows private causes of action.
Camp’s research has pointed to Alfa Bank’s servers making an unusually high amount of DNS lookups to Trump Organization servers, particularly during a period of time in the summer of 2016. The possible connection was first revealed in October by Slate, but the bank claimed the most likely explanation was spam marketing due to bank executives’ use of Trump hotels.
The story resurfaced earlier this month after CNN learned the FBI’s counterintelligence team was still investigating the connection. The letter to Camp comes as scrutiny of Russia’s activity during the 2016 U.S. campaign has intensified. In a hearing Monday before the House Intelligence Committee, FBI Director James Comey publicly announced that the bureau is investigating possible collusion ties between President Donald Trump’s campaign and the Russian government.
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Alfa bank is threatening a prominent security researcher with a CFAA suit over DNS data tied to Trump https://t.co/JCC6fHyJhi tip @Techmeme
— Greg Otto (@gregotto) March 21, 2017
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