Iceland and WikiLeaks have become focal points in the case of US whistle blower, Edward Snowden. WikiLeaks’ response to the June 18th death of American investigative journalist, Michael Hastings, has added more tension to controversy regarding US surveillance practices.
Hastings, 33, died earlier this week in a car crash in Los Angeles, California. He was in Los Angeles researching Jill Kelley’s privacy lawsuit against the FBI and the Department of Defense, according to the LA Times. The day after Hastings’ death, WikiLeaks tweeted, “Michael Hastings contacted WikiLeaks lawyer Jennifer Robinson just a few hours before he died, saying that the FBI was investigating him.”
Hastings has been described as a fearless war correspondent and reported for nearly seven years on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His 2010 Rolling Stone article, “The Runaway General,” famously lead US General Stanley McChrystal to resign. His most recent article for BuzzFeed was entitled “Why Democrats Love To Spy On Americans.”
Recent news regarding US surveillance, retaliation against leaked information, and commentary from WikiLeaks has lead some to wonder whether Hastings’ untimely death was accidental. Current speculation has come mostly in the form of online commentary. The FBI denied reports that Hastings has ever been under investigation.
Investigation into the cause of the crash is being carried out.
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