HAWKINS, Texas — The former interim mayor of Hawkins said he can’t be held responsible for the aftermath of the alleged hacking of the city’s computer system, even though he gave a man access to a city computer to perform a “cybersecurity audit" without the council's approval.
The man accused of the hacking, Shahaub Tafreshinejad, says he "absolutely did not commit" a crime and threatened a lawsuit.
Hawkins could lose about $55,000 in utility revenue next month if the computer system remains shut down following the April 1 cybersecurity incident, officials said Monday evening during a City Council meeting. The city isn’t able to send utility bills to residents, complicating its already strained financial status.
Read more from our news partner, the Longview News-Journal.