U.S. Congressman Will Hurd has beendisinvited to the Black Hat surety conferencein Las Vegas this yr where he was correct to deliver a keynote destination after question were lift about his ballot criminal record .
Members of the security community this workweek force attention to Hurd ’s record on woman ’s issue , including the right to miscarriage , with some directly rag Black Hat over the determination to invite Hurd . TechCrunch firstreportedthe narrative on Thursday .
Black Hat ab initio signal that it had no intention to disinvite Hurd , telling TechCrunch reporter Zack Whittaker that the congressman had been a large proponent of cybersecurity opening move in Congress while lauding his “ strong scope ” in computer scientific discipline and information security . “ He will offer the Black Hat audience a unique perspective of the infosec landscape and its gist on the government , ” an event spokesperson said .
U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, speaks with members of the press during his election night victory party, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in San Antonio.Photo: Darren Abate / AP
But on Friday , Black Hat say it had “ misjudged the separation of technology and political science . ” In a statement to Gizmodo , an outcome voice articulate that the group discussion would “ go on to focus on technology and research , ” but that it also recognizes that Black Hat “ is not the appropriate platform for the polarizing political debate leave from our choice of speaker . ”
Hurd ’s office did not immediately answer to a asking for comment .
“ We are still fully consecrated to providing an inclusive surround and excuse that this determination did not reflect that view , ” it said .
https://gizmodo.com/for-sale-have-i-been-pwned-1835413945
Hurd is a U.S. congresswoman from Texas who assumed office in 2015 . He represents a predominately Latinx district along the U.S.-Mexico mete reaching from El Paso to San Antonio . He is the only black Republican serving at this sentence .
Hurd , whose background includes nine years at the Central Intelligence Agency , is a steadfast adversary of miscarriage right . NARAL , a leading pro - choice organisation , devote him azero percentscore on legislation related to a women ’s right to take . He’svotedto defund Planned Parenthood ; prohibit insurance companies from covering abortion procedures , and to prohibit Medicaid payments to healthcare providers that do abortions .
He ’s also depict the ire of women rights ’ advocates and friend for voting against a 2015 bill mean to promote the participation of women in STEM fields .
Black Hat ’s initial decision to invite Hurd to keynote its 2019 conference follows two years ’ worth of reports concerning women being mistreated at cyber-terrorist conferences , including a undulation of sexual harassment allegations in the wake of the # MeToo movement .
In 2016 , aMotherboard articledetailed several accounts of women being physically snipe at such events , some of which are notorious for tardy - night after - political party and dense drinking . Most such incidents go unreported .
“ If woman do n’t feel safe in the areas where their profession raise and learns and shares intelligence operation , they are leave behind , ” security investigator Jessy Irwin told Motherboard at the time . “ This is a huge problem in terms of professional procession , and it sucks . ”
Update , 5:30pm : Rep. Hurd ’s communications director , Katie Thompson , institutionalise Gizmodo the undermentioned affirmation :
Representative Hurd was honored to be bid and hopes that the Black Hat Conference is a success . Congressman Hurd has always sought to engage chemical group of people that do n’t necessarily agree with all of his right to vote or thought . That ’s why Rep. Hurd is one of the loudest voices for bipartisanship in Congress . This Congress alone he voted for adequate pay for adequate work , for the Violence Against Women Act and the Equality Act .
Not to mention Congressman Hurd would have brought the prospective [ sic ] of a individual of color and someone who served our nation abroad
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