During last week’s questioning of FBI Director James Comey, California Senator Dianne Feinstein inadvertently revealed the amount the agency paid to hack into a terrorist’s iPhone, The Associated Press reports. The FBI has been resisting press requests to release the amount paid and the name of the vendor who broke into Syed Rizwan Farook’s iPhone 5c, but Feinstein disclosed the $900,000 payment in the process of questioning Comey on unrelated matters.
After ending its lawsuit against Apple after the company’s refusal to aid in unlocking the device, the Justice Department argued that the amount of the government’s payment for hacking services was properly classified. Neither the FBI nor Feinstein’s office would comment on her slip.
Comey has previously made comments leading to speculation that the hack may have cost more than $1.3 million.
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