Dana Mathewson

... Not What We Thought. Not by a long shot. Gee Whiz, folks...

A New Mexico solar observatory reopened Monday after an 11-day FBI investigation of a janitor who was suspected of using the facility’s internet to download child pornography, federal court documents revealed Wednesday.

The National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico, abruptly closed Sept. 6 over an undisclosed security issue. The lack of explanation fueled conspiracy theories, given the facility’s close proximity to Roswell – the location of a supposed UFO sighting in 1947.

An FBI officer said she was "investigating the activities of an individual who was utilizing the wireless internet service of the National Solar Observatory … to download and distribute child pornography.”

Officials on Monday said the observatory did not communicate with the public during the investigation because they didn’t want the suspect to be tipped off.

"[O]ur desire to provide additional information had to be balanced against the risk that, if spread at the time, the news would alert the suspect and impede the law enforcement investigation. That was a risk we could not take,” officials said.

Investigators determined the observatory’s janitor had used his laptop to connect to the facility’s wireless internet system, an FBI affidavit said. Federal authorities obtained a warrant to the search the suspect’s residence, Reuters reported, citing FBI records.

OK, I admit that was a serious matter. I heard somebody on a national talk radio program say something about how "area residents were being allowed back into their homes." I think he was exaggerating! After all, it says there that the observatory did not communicate with the public. Kind of hard to order a total evacuation of the area without communicating with the public.

Story here: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/09/20/new-mexico-observatory-shut-down-amid-fbi-child-porn-investigation-documents.html

Posted by: Thanos at September 24, 2018 04:05 AM (kEvfG)

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