UK Clears Extradition To US Of Israeli Hacker, Allegedly Hired By Exxon For Cyberattacks On Climate Activists & Orgs
An Israeli private investigator wanted by U.S. law enforcement for allegedly orchestrating an illegal “hacking-for-hire” operation on behalf of oil and gas major ExxonMobil has been denied permission to appeal against his extradition to the United States in the UK High Court of Justice.
As previously reported by DeSmog, Amit Forlit, who was arrested at Heathrow Airport under an Interpol red notice in April 2024, is charged with three offences by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), consisting of “conspiracy to commit computer hacking, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and wire fraud.” The offences carry maximum sentences of five, 20, and 20 years’ imprisonment, respectively. If found guilty, Forlit faces a potential 45 years in prison.
The decision to approve Forlit’s extradition was made by District Judge John McGarva, a judge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in April 2025, and certified by the Home Secretary. As a result of today’s ruling, the UK now will hand over Forlit to authorities in the U.S., where the Israeli private eye will contend with criminal charges.
U.S. federal prosecutors contend that, between 2013 and 2018, Forlit was paid $16 million by a Washington D.C. lobbying firm to carry out cyberattacks and hacking aimed at discrediting individuals or groups working to bring climate litigation against the ExxonMobil. In a startling disclosure, Forlit’s defense named ExxonMobil and the lobbying firm DCI Group as the clients of Forlit’s alleged intelligence-gathering activities, according to official court papers filed in January last year.
EDIT
https://www.desmog.com/2026/03/19/amit-forlit-alleged-exxon-hacker-for-hire-extradition-us-trial-uk-apeal/
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