Yeah, it looks like they got him. Breaking from ArsTechnica:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Maryland man for allegedly sending a seizure-inducing tweet to Newsweek writer Kurt Eichenwald, who has written about his battle with epilepsy.
Most of us are familiar with the backstory. Both prior to and after the 2016 election Kurt Eichenwald’s investigative reporting on Donald Trump has been exemplary for its thoroughness and integrity. But it came at a price.
Eichenwald, who suffers from epilepsy, apparently provoked the wrath of an anonymous “alt-right" (presumed) Trump supporter, styling himself “@jew_goldstein” and using the characteristic anti-Semitic "marker" of three parentheses surrounding his pseudonym “(((Ari Goldstein)))” now in favor by a new generation of “hipster” neo-Nazis.
On December 15 of last year, this person sent an epileptogenic image (a strobe light), disguised as a Tweet to Eichenwald, specifically designed to induce a seizure in someone susceptible who opened it. In this case, the image was accompanied by the message “You deserve a seizure."
With some forms of epilepsy, strobing lights can spark seizures. In 1997, for example, a Pokémon episode was said to have sent nearly 700 Japanese children to the hospital. Epileptogenesis was believed to be a problem for WipEout HD in 2008. And about a decade ago, hackers descended on an epilepsy-support message board with flashing animations and triggered headaches and seizures in some users.
Eichenwald received the tweet after appearing on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson show, and defending his reporting on Trump. Since that time Eichenwald has vowed he would do everything in his power to see his attacker apprehended.
Eichenwald said that he has received as many as 40 similar tweets from various Twitter handles after he announced he received the seizure-inducing strobing tweet. “Details of their cases are with the FBI. Stop sending them,” Eichenwald tweeted Friday.
Because once you’re targeted by these cowards, they make sure to get their pals involved.
The United States Attorney’s Office has now identified the assailant as one John Rayne Rivello, 29, a resident of Salisbury, Maryland. The U.S Attorney has thus far confirmed the charge of cyberstalking, but has not addressed other charges he may face. He was arrested today and is in for a world of hurt.
“What [this person] did with his Twitter message was no different from someone sending a bomb in the mail or sending an envelope filled with Anthrax spores,” said Eichenwald’s attorney, Steven Lieberman. “It wasn’t the content of the communication that was intended to persuade somebody or make them feel badly about themselves; this was an electronic communication that was designed to have a physical effect.”
Quite a bit more on Rivello here, as Eichenwald has posted the Press Release from the U.S. Attorney’s office:
According to the press release from the Department of Justice, a search warrant of Rivello’s Twitter account revealed that he knew Eichenwald had epilepsy. He messaged others on Twitter, the DOJ said, writing things like: “I hope this sends him into a seizure” and “Spammed this at [victim] let’s see if he dies” and “I know he has epilepsy.” Rivello’s iCloud account also had a screenshot of Eichenwald’s Wikipedia page, showing a fake obituary for December 16, 2016, and a screenshot of seizure triggers. The press release emphasizes that these are accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Eichenwald Tweeted today that Rivello will also face indictment from the Dallas District Attorney on different charges.
Can’t wait to hear this guy try to defend himself in Court. Maybe we’ll learn something about who could have possibly motivated him to do such a thing.