The FBI has traced leaked videos of former Fox News host Tucker Carlson back to former Deadspin video editor Timothy Burke.
Burke, who is the husband of Tampa City Council member Lynn Hurtak, saw his home raided by FBI agents earlier this month.
A report from the Tampa Bay Times claims a letter was sent to Fox News by the FBI asking the network to preserve information and records related to the investigation for 90 days. The investigation at Fox News “concerns allegations of unauthorized computer access, interception of wire, oral, or electronic communication, conspiracy, and other federal crimes”.
The reportedly hacked material includes the subsequent leaking of unaired portions of Carlson’s interview with Kanye West, which included anti-Semitic remarks, and also the “FOXLEAKS” series from Media Matters that showed Carlson complaining about his relationship with Fox News, among other things.
Many pundits, notably Megyn Kelly and Charlie Kirk, have argued that Fox News was behind the Media Matters leaks. The letter from the FBI to Fox News says both Media Matters and Vice News — who published the West interview clips — have not been accused of any wrongdoing.
Burke has been a prominent online video figure. He produced a video that has gone viral several different times showcasing local news anchors at all Sinclair-owned stations reading the same script about trust in journalism. He also co-authored the 2012 Deadspin report that showed revealed Notre Dame linebacker Manti Teo’s reported relationship and death of his girlfriend was a catfishing hoax.
