FBI Agent testimony as part of plaintiff lawsuit exposes serious Code of Ethics violations

September 25, 2022

WATERBURY—FBI Agent William Aldenberg took the witness stand in the case against Alex Jones’ claims that the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax.

Aldenberg broke down as he described being among the first law enforcement officers to enter the two classrooms where 20 children died. “Was what you saw in that school fake?” asked attorney Christopher Mattei, one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs.

Aldenberg may have gotten emotional, but there is a glaring conflict of interest: this FBI agent may stand to greatly benefit financially if the plaintiffs win. 

The FBI Code of Ethics, under “Conflicts”, first addresses financial conflicts, 

“An employee is prohibited from participating in any matter in which he has a financial interest. In addition to an employee’s own financial interest, certain interests are considered his (“imputed” to him)—such as those of his spouse, minor children and business partners. However, an employee may participate in such a matter if he has a waiver.”

Because Aldenberg is a current FBI employee as of September 2022, he should not be on the stand without a waiver from the bureau. However, attorney Mattei never asked him to produce such a waiver.

According to NPR, the agent alludes to the other party’s monetary gain as he tears up. 

“It’s one of the worst things that ever happened, if not the worst thing that ever happened here, what happened to them,” Aldenberg said. “And people want to say this didn’t happen? And then they want to get rich off of it? That’s the worst part.”

“You know, you can say whatever you want about me, I don’t care,” Aldenberg said. “Just say what you want. I’m a frigging big boy. I can take it. But then they want to make profits, they want to make millions and millions of dollars…”

Sally Finck is editor-in-chief of the Continental Tribune LLC, a CT digital news outlet. Inform, Engage, Inspire.©2023 Continental Tribune LLC