DEF CON bans hackers, technologists named in Epstein documents

"The DEF CON hacker conference has banned three people involved with the organization whose names appeared in recently released Justice Department files that exposed their ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The conference banned Vincenzo Iozzo, Joichi Ito and Pablos Holman from future attendance, according to an updated list of banned individuals made public Wednesday. The Justice Department's release of approximately 3 million files on Jan. 30 has brought to light Epstein's significant interest in some of the world's largest hacker gatherings, with the recent disclosures connecting all three individuals to those efforts."

"It's not entirely clear if Epstein ever attended either of the conferences. The banned individuals named in the emails are all linked to efforts he made to attend, according to the DOJ-released emails. Other released documents, including flight manifests and schedules, show that Epstein intended to attend. In one case, Epstein and several associates in August 2013 arranged to spend time at DEF CON, where he planned to meet Holman, then involved in cybersecurity initiatives at private equity firm Intellectual Ventures."

"Emails indicate that in 2014, Ito - now president of Japan's Chiba Institute of Technology and formerly head of the MIT Media Lab - connected Iozzo with Epstein over email. Ito resigned from MIT in 2019 after disclosures showed he had taken some $1.7 million from Epstein to support the lab and his personal investment vehicles. He later expressed regret over the relationship, saying he was "never involved in, never heard him talk about and never saw any evidence of the horrific acts that he was accused of.""

DEF CON banned Vincenzo Iozzo, Joichi Ito and Pablos Holman following the release of Justice Department files that linked them to Jeffrey Epstein. The DOJ released about 3 million files on Jan. 30 showing Epstein's interest in major hacker conferences and connections to efforts to attend. Documents including flight manifests and schedules indicate Epstein intended to attend events. In August 2013 Epstein planned to spend time at DEF CON to meet Holman. Emails from 2014 show Ito connected Iozzo with Epstein. Ito resigned from MIT in 2019 after disclosures about Epstein funding.

Read at Nextgov.com