Security News > 2022 > October > Ex-WSJ reporter says he was framed in elaborate 'hack-and-smear' operation

The leaked emails, according to Solomon's lawsuit, "Presented suggestive language creating a wrongful appearance of alleged improper, unethical and/or fraudulent dealings between Mr Solomon and Mr Azima that never occurred."

For one, Georgia ceased its visa-free policy for Iranian nationals in July that year, and froze 150 Iranian bank accounts in the country, Solomon's complaint stated.

According to Solomon's lawsuit, Azima was a friend of Sheikh Saud and acted as a middleman in the Iranian transactions, though the royal later grew suspicious and feared the business magnate was conspiring with others to unseat him.

In June 2017, Solomon got a call from an Associated Press reporter who seemed to have the same email communications between Solomon and Azima, according to the lawsuit.

These documents appeared to show Azima offering Solomon a 10 percent stake in Denx.

In addition to costing him his job, the alleged "Hack-and-smear operation" also damaged Solomon's reputation and prevented him from securing any other investigative reporter gigs, his lawsuit says.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2022/10/18/jay_solomon_lawsuit_hack_and_smear/