By Sam Tobin
LONDON (Reuters) – An Israeli private investigator wanted by the U.S. for allegedly carrying out a “hacking for hire” campaign at the behest of an ExxonMobil lobbyist lost his fight on Wednesday against extradition from Britain.
Amit Forlit, 57, is facing charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and computer hacking relating to his alleged targeting of environmental activists, his lawyers said in January, confirming Reuters’ earlier reporting.
Lawyers representing the U.S. authorities said Forlit was alleged to have directed the hacking of activists, with documents then passed to a lobbying firm and subsequently leaked to the media.
Forlit, who was arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport last year, argued he should not be sent to the U.S. because – as his charges relate to climate change litigation against Exxon – his prosecution is “unquestionably political”.
His objections to extradition were rejected by Judge John McGarva, who said in his written ruling that U.S. prosecutors simply alleged that Forlit was a “hired gun”.
“The highest he can put his case is that he is collateral damage in the climate change litigation,” McGarva said. He added that Forlit’s prosecution “may be dropped by the new administration” of President Donald Trump.
Forlit, whose bail was extended, has 14 days to challenge the decision at the High Court. His lawyer Edward Grange told reporters he expected the case to end up at the High Court.
Forlit’s lawyers said in court filings for January’s hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court that Forlit was charged with a conspiracy to hack individuals and entities involved in or associated with environmental activism.
His lawyer Rachel Scott said the hacking was “alleged to have been commissioned by DCI Group, a lobbying firm representing ExxonMobil”.
In November, Reuters reported that Forlit was wanted by the U.S. Department of Justice in connection with an espionage campaign targeting environmentalists seeking to hold Exxon legally accountable for its impact on climate change.
Exxon previously said it “has not been involved in, nor are we aware of, any hacking activities” and that, if there were hacking involved, “we condemn it in the strongest possible terms”.
DCI Group previously said the allegations that it commissioned the hacking operation were false, adding it directs all of its employees and consultants to comply with the law.
(Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Kate Holton and Mark Heinrich)
