Thread by @codyave

Hypothesis:

a) Schulte's apartment server had been used to store the encrypted DNC files that were stolen in Spring 2016, and/or

b) the server was used by various unknown admins as a testing ground for decrypting the stolen files, in response to a request submitted by WikiLeaks

In 2011, Jason Katz had been identified as someone who had once tried (and failed) to decrypt a U.S. Govt file using a password-cracking tool.

The encrypted file had been provided by Chelsea Manning, and the decryption request had been made by WikiLeaks.

motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/…

Andrew Strutt, the guy who ran the server in which the cracking attempt was thought to have been attempted, had his workstation confiscated by the FBI that same year.

+300 researchers/academics/enthusiasts were able to use his server at any given time, including hacker communities

Later in 2011, the feds told Katz that they weren't necessarily interested in him, but in various individuals associated with WikiLeaks.

Compare Katz/Strutt with Schulte:

"At my peak, I had 50-100+ different users utilizing my servers for all kinds of different activities from storage space to development, reverse engineering, gaming, etc." - Schulte, Dec. 2017

presumptionofinnocence.net/?fbclid=IwAR3C…

"...there were 'at least 5' (i.e., 10) [administrators logged into my server on March 2nd, 2017]..." Schulte, 10/23/18

cryptome.org/2018/10/schult…

"I was suspended from work [at Bloomberg in mid-March 2017] and spent the next 6 months assisting the FBI in their investigation through various proffer sessions..."

presumptionofinnocence.net/?fbclid=IwAR3C…

"The FBI ...task my former mentor...to meet me without my attorney and proceed to attempt to coerce a confession from me while wearing a wire.
My lawyers and I respond by [contacting the AP in August 2017]. The FBI arrest me shortly thereafter." -Schulte

presumptionofinnocence.net/?fbclid=IwAR3C…

The Govt charges that Schulte, from in or around March 2016, until sometime at least in or around June 2016, manipulated a CIA computer (probably his workstation), and configured it so as not to leave a trace of his activities, nor for others to log in.

courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

Starting sometime in late June 2016, GRU operatives in control of the Guccifer 2.0 twitter account had been trying (and failing) to transfer the stolen DNC files to WikiLeaks.

Around July 14, 2016, WikiLeaks is sent a text document with instructions on how to locate and access the stolen DNC files.

Within about four days, WikiLeaks confirms that they were able to retrieve the DNC files.

justice.gov/file/1080281/d…