Covid Data Scientist Charged For Illegal Use Of The State's Computer System
A Florida scientist who, in the early stages of a pandemic in the US, refused to fake data on the spread of coronavirus, was arrested and faced with charges of illegal access to the state's computer system.
According to information from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Rebekah Jones was arrested Monday and released after posting $ 2,500 bail.
"The agency said she is charged with one count of offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks and electronic devices," CBS News reports.
Jones later tweeted that she was barred from divulging details of the investigation.
Censored by the state of Florida until further notice. #LetHerSpeak
— Rebekah Jones (@GeoRebekah) January 17, 2021
In a series of tweets leading up to the arrest, Jones revealed that she and her family were threatened and therefore she voluntarily surrendered to authorities.
“To protect my family from continued police violence, and to show that I'm ready to fight whatever they throw at me, I'm turning myself into police in Florida Sunday night. The Governor will not win his war on science and free speech. He will not silence those who speak out,” she wrote.
She also said that after she was fired for refusing to falsify statistics on Covid-19 cases, a search was conducted in her house. A search was carried out in December, computers and other personal belongings were seized from the scientist, which could help the investigation to put Jones in prison.
... was issued the day after a Tallahassee judge told police that if they're not investigating a crime, they had to return my equipment. They didn't find proof of anything related to the warrant, so they invented something new to come after me for in retaliation.
— Rebekah Jones (@GeoRebekah) January 16, 2021
BREAKING: FDLE found no evidence of a message sent last Nov. to DOH staff telling them to 'speak out' on any of the devices they took - the entire basis for the raid on my home in Dec. The warrant was based on a lie. We argued this in court just last week. This should be victory.
— Rebekah Jones (@GeoRebekah) January 16, 2021
Jones reportedly filed a lawsuit based on an illegally issued search warrant.
Image: youtube screen grab