Nude Photos Of Boss Released By Indicted Former House Staffers

WASHINGTON, DC — Two former congressional staffers have been indicted on federal charges related to leaking nude images and videos of a delegate and her husband online, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced.

Juan R. McCullum, 35, of D.C. and Dorene Browne-Louis, 45, of Upper Marlboro were staffers of Del. Stacey Plaskett, the delegate to Congress from the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Federal prosecutors said McCullum had access to Plaskett's password-protected phone when he took it in for repairs in March 2016. The phone contained nude images and videos of Plaskett and her husband that McCullum got a hold of.

After McCullum left the office's employment in June 2016, he allegedly used a fake name to create a Hotmail email address and Facebook account to distribute and post the images and videos, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said McCullum "encouraged others on social media to redistribute the images and videos in the member's congressional district."

Court documents said in July 2016 McCullum sent emails to members of the media, friended Facebook accounts of candidates running against his former boss and reached out to people who knew Plaskett in an effort to share the nude images and videos that he posted.

McCullum allegedly sent text messages of the videos and photos to Browne-Louis. She is accused of deleting the messages from her phone and making false or misleading statements to federal investigators about McCullum's activities.

"Last year, my privacy was invaded, which was followed by an organized smear campaign and defamatory press reports concerning both my family and me," Plaskett said in a statement. "I was informed today that preliminary arrests had been made of individuals who are alleged to have been involved in those illegal acts. I am deeply grateful to the Capitol Police and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for their thorough and in depth investigation of the crimes committed against me, and those who I love."

According to CNN, an aide to the delegate last year said the leaked material included a topless photo of Plaskett and an "innocent" video of her husband wearing makeup while playing with their daughter.

McCullum was indicted on two counts of cyberstalking, while Browne-Louis was indicted on two counts of obstruction of justice. McCullum's first court appearance has not yet been scheduled, while Browne-Louis pleaded not guilty to her charges in district court Thursday.

The cyberstalking charge carries a maximum of five years in prison.

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