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Former Us editor denies hacking computers

Celebrity fan magazines make a good deal of their money by nosing around in other people's business. But they get as angry as anyone else when they believe others are snooping around their files.And they get really mad when the person they suspect is an ex-employee who left to become a competitor.Us Weekly contacted the FBI after it became suspicious that Jill Ishkanian, a former editor who quit l
/ Source: The Associated Press

Celebrity fan magazines make a good deal of their money by nosing around in other people's business. But they get as angry as anyone else when they believe others are snooping around their files.

And they get really mad when the person they suspect is an ex-employee who left to become a competitor.

Us Weekly contacted the FBI after it became suspicious that Jill Ishkanian, a former editor who quit last year to start a paparazzi agency, tapped into its computer system to steal scoops, according to published reports.

In May, FBI agents searched Ishkanian's Topanga Canyon home and Sunset Strip office and seized at least one of her computers, said her spokesman, Montreal attorney Glenn Feldman, in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

"The whistle was blown," Feldman said, when People magazine ran a cover showing photographs of actress Denise Richards and rocker Richie Sambora, which came from Ishkanian's agency.

Feldman also said there were rumors that Ishkanian "may have stolen" images of beauty queen Elizabeth Ann Arnold, a former Miss Kentucky USA, and singer and actor Nick Lachey from Us Weekly's computer files using a password she had while she worked at the magazine.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eilmiller confirmed that "search warrants were served at particular locations," but said the agency is prohibited from commenting further because the warrants are sealed.

Feldman said Ishkanian was allowed to keep the password after she quit and in order to use it with freelance assignments. He also said the password was "given to a number of people," including independent freelance photographers.

But Feldman stressed that she never accessed the magazine's computers after she left unless specifically instructed to do so in connection with freelance work.

"At this point, we're not commenting on anything," said Us Weekly's spokesman, Ed Tagliaferre.

A call to Us Weekly's West Coast executive editor, Ken Baker, was not returned.

The dispute has "more to do with jealousy and ruffled feathers than particular legal issues," said Frank Griffin, co-owner of the prominent Bauer-Griffin paparazzi agency.

"I don't know if she hacked or not," Griffin added. "If she did, what would she find out from Us Magazine that she couldn't find anywhere else?"

The magazine may have been angered by a deposition Ishkanian gave in a lawsuit against the magazine by Britney Spears and her husband, Kevin Federline, Feldman suggested. "The deposition could absolutely be useful to Britney."

A call to Spears' attorney to confirm Ishkanian's involvement was not returned.