Hackers breached the U.S. federal court document storage system, allegedly gaining access to confidential information in several states. That’s according to Politico, citing sources familiar with the matter.
According to the outlet, the breach has raised concerns that the attackers may have exposed the identities of sealed informants involved in criminal proceedings in district courts. One source clarified that the most highly protected federal-level witnesses appear to be unaffected, as their data is stored in secure Justice Department systems.
The intrusion may also have compromised other classified materials, including indictments containing non-public details, as well as sealed arrest and search warrants.
The scope of the breach—discovered in early July, according to sources—remains unclear. As Politico reports, chief judges of the federal courts in the Eighth Circuit, which includes Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, have been notified.
One source with more than 20 years of experience in the judicial system said it was the first time they had encountered a breach of this magnitude. Another source claimed that roughly ten court cases were allegedly falsified in one of the districts, though this has not been officially confirmed.
The identity of those behind the attack remains unknown. It is believed the hackers may be linked to a foreign government or a transnational criminal organization.
U.S. authorities have yet to comment on the incident.
