Frances Haugen’s testimony to Parliament and the US Congress made headlines all over the world.
MailOnline can show that the Facebook whistleblower’s campaign is far from a one woman affair.
A high-powered team of lawyers, media strategists, and former tech executive, 37-year-old Michael is supported by the company.
Many are connected to Whitstleblower Aid which is a free-speech organization that was founded in 2017 to help those who want to criticize big business and government.
She was flanked from one side by two of the most prominent human rights lawyers from both sides of the Atlantic while she gave evidence at the Commons Online Safety Bill hearings.
Former Facebook executive Frances Haugen is backed by a high-powered team of lawyers and media strategists. Two lawyers accompanied Haugen as she testified before Parliament yesterday. Seen just to the left behind her was Andrew Bakaj, a former CIA officer who was closely involved in the impeachment action against former President Donald Trump. Next to him was London-based Matthew Jury, who works for solicitors McCue Law
Bakaj (left), was closely involved with the impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump
One side was Matthew Jury, a London-based solicitor who works for McCue Law. They are retained by Whistleblower Aid UK.
Unusually, Mr Jury can be licensed to practice both in England and Wales as well as in New York.
He is a specialist in human rights law, counter-terrorism law, and has acted for the Foreign Office as well as the Ministry of Defence.
Andrew Bakaj, a former CIA Officer who was closely involved with the impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump, was on Haugen’s opposite side, elegantly dressed in a red silk tie, and sporting a high-end watch.
He filed the first complaint, which led to several investigations by the US Congress into Trump-Ukraine.
In the meantime, there are more wealthy patrons and heavyweight lawyers back in the U.S. who have funded the trip to Europe and the UK (they will be next visiting Belgium and Germany).
Bill Burton was President Barack Obama’s deputy press secretary and chief PR advisor.
He is now employed by the LA-to Washington PR giant Bryson Gillette. This has helped run a massive media campaign for the United States that was based on Ms Haugen’s tranche of leaked papers.
He was able to help run a massive media campaign in America based on Ms Haugen’s tranche of leaked papers from Facebook.
Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, is another major supporter in her battle of words against Mark Zuckerberg. His philanthropic company Luminate handles the European side of her press coverage and government relations.
American attorney Mark Zaid was the co-founder of Whistleblower Aid.
He was once a lawyer for Mohammed Al Fayed, former owner of Harrods, in the 2001 case in which he claimed for his client that the US spy agency had been monitoring Princess Diana just before her death in Paris in 1997.
John Tye, the other co-founder was a former State Department official who whistleblower on government electronic surveillance.
Whistleblower Aid describes itself as ‘A pioneering, non-profit legal organization that helps patriotic government employees and brave, private-sector workers report and publicize their concerns — safely, lawfully, and responsibly.
“Our professional legal advice will not be disclosed to anyone, but it will not be used to make any political or ideological decisions. Everything we do for clients is completely free unless we receive a monetary award.
Their website states: “We help government employees as well as private-sector workers to uphold their obligations, protect the public.
Whistleblower aid offers legal alternatives for illicit leaking.
Haugen gets into a verbal spat with Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook
“No one should be forced to sacrifice their career or freedom to live their conscience.”
The organisation raises money from foundations and crowdsourced financing to pay its expenses. In the instance of Ms Haugen, an additional ‘go fund us’ page was created earlier this month. This page reached $64,000 today and has a $100,000 target.
Whistleblower Aid set up Ms Haugen’s fundraising page. It stated that the money would help’make her stand up to the truth’.
MailOnline asked Mr Jury about Ms Haugen’s supporters. He declined to answer whether or not she had been specifically paid for her trip to London, other European capitals, and where the team stayed.
The most likely source for the lion’s portion of the funding is Mr Omidyar. He is a well-known critic and advocate of Big Tech, whose foundation donated $150,000 in aid to Whistleblower Aid last fiscal year.
Luminate is also providing Haugen’s European PR operations, Politico’s Emily Birnbaum reported.
Pierre Omidyar (ebay founder) is another major backer in her fight against Mark Zuckerberg, who is a tech billionaire. He is said to be managing the European side for her press and government relations through his philanthropic firm Luminate.
Burton is also a member at the Center for Humane Technology, which Omidyar also finances.
Insider was told that Frances Haugen became public because Luminate wanted to support her efforts to promote a wide public discussion about the issues she raised.
Glenn Greenwald, a former Guardian journalist, has attacked Ms Haugen’s diverse interests as being partisan. He broke the story about Edward Snowden’s revelations regarding US state surveillance.
Mediaite.com, he wrote: “None of the swooning about this new Facebook heroine nor any other media assaults Facebook have anything remotely related to a concern over these genuine dangers.
‘Congress has not taken steps to limit the influence of Silicon Valley giants because Facebook/Google drown the establishment wingsof both parties with huge amounts of money and pay well-connected lobbyists, who are friends and former coworkers of key lawmakers to use D.C. influence against reform.
Bill Burton, her chief PR advisor, was also the deputy press secretary to President Barack Obama
American attorney Mark Zaid was the co-founder of Whistleblower Aid.
MailOnline asked Mr Jury (file photograph) about Ms Haugen’s supporters. However, he declined to answer who funded her trip or where the team stayed.
“With the exception of some stalwarts neither party’s ruling wings really has any objections to this monopolistic authority as long as it’s used to advance their own interests.”
Jury was the British Army soldier Dennis Hutchings who died last week. He also represented Sarah Jane Young whose father was killed by an IRA bombing at Hyde Park in 1982.
Mailonline was informed by Luminate’s spokesperson that the company is financing her travel expenses.
Luminate stepped forward to support Frances Haugen’s efforts in promoting a broad public discussion about the issues revealed by her disclosures.
“We announced this support via a blog post on October 19th.
‘We are The Omidyar Group’s only organisation that directly supports Frances Haugen, her team, and their work.
Frances’ team will be supported by our support.
“We encourage all organizations that want to address these digital threats to democracy, to join us in these efforts.
Larry Lessig and Whistleblower Assistance are her pro bono lawyers. Her legal counsel has hired Bryson Gilette to advise her on PR strategy.