Report: Black Cube Gathered Deep Intel Reports on Obama Aides’ Families

The secretive Israeli intelligence firm reportedly once enlisted by disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein to dig up dirt on his accusers also targeted aides to former President Barack Obama in an attempt to undermine the Iran nuclear deal, according to documents obtained by The New Yorker. The documents come after a weekend story by The Observer, which reported that aides to President Trump had hired a private Israeli intelligence firm in an attempt to discredit the previous administration’s advocacy of the Iran nuclear accord. The New Yorker’s Ronan Farrow reports that the firm in question is, indeed, Black Cube—the entity used by Weinstein. But he cites a source saying the work was not done at the behest of the Trump administration but, rather, for “a private-sector client pursuing commercial interests related to sanctions on Iran.” Farrow says he unearthed documents that show Black Cube compiled detailed reports on former Obama administration officials Ben Rhodes and Colin Kahl, including their addresses, information about family members, and even the makes of their cars. Rhodes and Kahl’s wives say they were approached via email by a woman claiming to be from a U.K.-based firm. On LinkedIn, the names of both women—Adriana Gavrilo and Eva Novak—appeared to show the same thin, blond woman claiming to be fluent in Serbian; Novak’s profile was deleted shortly after Black Cube was asked for comment, The New Yorker reports. Black Cube, which is reportedly staffed by elite former Mossad agents and high-level Israeli intel officials, denied the claims. “It is Black Cube’s policy to never discuss its clients with any third party, and to never confirm or deny any speculation made with regard to the company’s work,” the firm said in a statement, adding that Black Cube “operates in full compliance of the law.” “Black Cube has no relation whatsoever to the Trump administration, to Trump aides, to anyone close to the administration, or to the Iran Nuclear deal.”