Compromising images of Likud lawmaker sent to Knesset offices by anonymous email
Report says photos deleted from Knesset system after a recipient alerted IT department; MK Milwidsky says ‘fabricated’ pictures circulated to tarnish his reputation
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Images purporting to be nude photos of Likud MK Hanoch Milwidsky were sent from an anonymous email address to several lawmakers’ bureaus in the Knesset, Hebrew media reported Thursday.
Milwidsky told the Knesset plenum that the images and accompanying correspondence were “fabricated” and had previously been circulated to many of his acquaintances two years ago in an effort to cause him damage.
According to Channel 12 news, which first reported the incident, the photos were sent out randomly to several offices of lawmakers from an email account created recently.
One of the recipients reported the matter to the Knesset IT department, which removed the content from the legislature’s network, the report said.
“Those who know me at all in-depth will recognize that it is a fabrication. This is the situation and I am sorry that it was circulated in an anonymous email to some of the offices,” the Likud lawmaker told the Knesset.
Milwidsky has been no stranger to controversies during his career in the public eye. In September 2022, a woman alleged was sexually assaulted by Milwidsky at her home in 2014. The lawmaker has denied her allegations.
Milwidsky was also forced to apologize in May after he accused Dani Elgarat of exploiting the plight of his brother Itzik, who is being held hostage in Gaza, for political gain.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
