Havana Syndrome hits CIA, Congress in Wisconsin, Russia takes credit.

• Date: 27 September 2023
• Author: Schuster, Steve
• Published date: 27 September 2023
• Author: Schuster, Steve

Byline: Steve Schuster, sschuster@wislawjournal.com

CIA employees around the world, including in Wisconsin and U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, are among the latest possible targets of Havana Syndrome.

"I don't publicize this much, but I have certainly been evaluated for possible exposure myself," Johnson said during an interview with the Wisconsin Law Journal on Wednesday.

"I lost my hearing and my balance simultaneously," Johnson said, noting that the 2018 hearing loss has been permanent.

Johnson said he experienced significant neurological symptoms consistent with Havana Syndrome following a 2018 trip to Moscow, which resulted in permanent hearing loss in one ear, balance issues and evaluation at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Walter Reed Hospital for Havana Syndrome.

"I had blood loss to my cranial nerve ... I am basically deaf in my right ear. My balance has come back to a certain extent, but it's still impaired," Johnson said, noting he wasn't given a definitive Havana Syndrome diagnosis, but that was what was being evaluated.

Washington, D.C., attorney Mark Zaid who represents victims of Havana Syndrome said, "imagine waking up one morning feeling great and getting ready for work. Then all of a sudden being hit with paralyzing simultaneous symptoms."

Those symptoms include, but are not limited to, ear pain, blurred vision, vertigo, uncontrollable vomiting lasting days.

Zaid also said children and family pets have reported suffering from the same symptoms, noting this has been the case for the brave men and women of our intelligence community who work relentlessly each and every day to protect our freedoms and keep our nation safe.

New information provided to the Wisconsin Law Journal last week explains how technology likely developed and deployed by the United States has now been used by Russia to target American citizens. As a result, many U.S. citizens are entitled to settlements, and as Wisconsin residents are no exception. The need for legal representation is increasing.

Tier I settlements with the federal government under the Havana Act start around $140,0000, Zaid said during an interview with the Wisconsin Law Journal.

Zaid said he represents clients in the intelligence community throughout the nation, including CIA employees based in Wisconsin.

"I wish there were more attorneys involved. One of my CIA clients is originally from Wisconsin," Zaid said, noting that he's a small D.C. firm that specializes in National Security.

Navigating these complex legal matters within the intelligence community is no easy task, Zaid said, noting it's not traditional litigation.

"Compensation under the Havana Act doesn't require much in way of litigation work, it's simplistic filings. It's more trying to coordinate within agencies to push them to render decisions...