Science

Wife of NASA astronaut who 'hacked her bank account' speaks out


The estranged wife of a decorated NASA astronaut has spoken out about her decision to go public with allegations that her spouse hacked her bank account from space, revealing an ugly custody battle back on earth.

Summer Worden has accused astronaut and former US Army Lieutenant Anne McClain of illegally accessing her financial records while aboard the International Space Station, as part of a ‘highly calculated and manipulated campaign’ to obtain custody of Woden’s six-year-old son, Briggs.

Worden, a former Air Force intelligence officer, brought a complaint against McClain with the Federal Trade Commission, claiming that McClain had committed identity theft, even though none of Worden’s funds had been tampered with.

She said she had at first hoped to keep the dispute out of the media glare, so it didn’t seem as if she was trying to ‘ruin Anne’s career’. However, when McClain successfully obtained visitation rights to see Briggs bi-weekly earlier this month, the gloves came off.

‘When attacks started coming for my son, immediately I knew where my loyalty lied and it was in protecting my son, 110%. That wasn’t even a thought for me that was the direction I went,’ Worden told ABC.

Summer Worden has accused astronaut and former US Army Lieutenant Anne McClain of illegally accessing her financial records while aboard the International Space Station, as part of a ‘highly calculated and manipulated campaign’ to obtain custody of Woden’s six-year-old son, Briggs

US Army Lieutenant Anne McClain

Summer Worden (left) has accused astronaut and former US Army Lieutenant Anne McClain of illegally accessing her financial records while aboard the International Space Station, as part of a ‘highly calculated and manipulated campaign’ to obtain custody of Woden’s six-year-old son, Briggs

McClain's (left) estranged spouse, Summer Worden (right), filed an identity theft complaint with the FTC over the incident, while Worden's parents lobbed a complaint to NASA's Inspector General, claiming it's part of McClain's efforts to gain custody of Worden's child (center)

McClain’s (left) estranged spouse, Summer Worden (right), filed an identity theft complaint with the FTC over the incident, while Worden’s parents lobbed a complaint to NASA’s Inspector General, claiming it’s part of McClain’s efforts to gain custody of Worden’s child (center) 

‘At that point, I knew I had to come forward and tell my story because the momentum of the case was not going in the direction we were hoping it to go in accordance with the law and preserving my rights as a parent.’

Earlier this week she revealed to the New York Times that she discovered McClain had been keeping tabs on her finances after the 40-year-old kept questioning her on her spending habits, and appeared to have detailed knowledge of her latest purchases – despite the fact the pair were separated and McClain was coming towards the end of a six-month mission orbiting earth.

Almost immediately, Worden auctioned the FTC complaint but her parents went one step further by bringing the issue up directly with the NASA Inspector General in June, because their daughter was becoming ‘frightened’ about what McClain might do when she returned from space.

‘As Anne was getting ready to come home, Summer was becoming more and more frightened and let us know about that,’ Worden’s mother, Beth, told Good Morning America. ‘We were thinking, “What on earth is going to happen?” Surely there’s no way a third party can take our grandson. He’s our firstborn grandson.’

McClain claimed that claimed that she checked on Worden's bank account to make sure there were enough funds for the care of Worden's son

McClain in space

McClain claimed that claimed that she checked on Worden’s bank account to make sure there were enough funds for the care of Worden’s son, who they raised together while married

‘As Anne was getting ready to come home, Summer was becoming more and more frightened and let us know about that,’ Worden’s mother, Beth, told Good Morning America. ‘We were thinking, “What on earth is going to happen?” Surely there's no way a third party can take our grandson. He's our firstborn grandson’

‘As Anne was getting ready to come home, Summer was becoming more and more frightened and let us know about that,’ Worden’s mother, Beth, told Good Morning America. ‘We were thinking, “What on earth is going to happen?” Surely there’s no way a third party can take our grandson. He’s our firstborn grandson’

Worden's parents said that McClain's actions were part of her efforts to gain custody of Worden's son (pictured with McClain), who she had a year prior to the couple's marriage

Worden’s parents said that McClain’s actions were part of her efforts to gain custody of Worden’s son (pictured with McClain), who she had a year prior to the couple’s marriage 

Last week, McClain, who is back on terra firma, sat down for an under-oath interview with the inspector general, during which she was said to have admitted that she did access Worden’s banking information.

However, McClain apparently claimed that she was just doing something she had always done while she and Worden were still a couple – checking in on Worden’s finances to make sure that there was enough money to support Worden’s child, who they had been raising together.

McClain claimed that she was using the same password that she had always used during their relationship and that she had not been told to stop accessing Worden’s bank account.

McClain and Worden married in 2014, with Worden filing for divorce in 2018 after McClain accused her of assault, a claim which Worden denies and said was part of McClain’s efforts at gaining custody of her son. The assault case was eventually dismissed.

McClain was on the International Space Station when Worden discovered that McClain had been accessing her accounts (file)

McClain was on the International Space Station when Worden discovered that McClain had been accessing her accounts (file) 

However, McClain apparently claimed that she was just doing something she had always done while she and Worden were still a couple - checking in on Worden's finances to make sure that there was enough money to support Worden's child, who they had been raising together

However, McClain apparently claimed that she was just doing something she had always done while she and Worden were still a couple – checking in on Worden’s finances to make sure that there was enough money to support Worden’s child, who they had been raising together

Worden said the real ‘catalyst’ for their divorce came in the shape of McClain and her repeated requests to legally adopt Briggs, which she turned down even when the pair were married.

She said McClain didn’t respect the decision and shortly after she noticed a shift in her demeanor and in their relationship.

‘The person I know now wasn’t the person I married. Over time true colors were revealed, and the real Anne came about,’ Worden said. ‘And… [she’s a] very much controlling individual.

‘It was almost like, “you will do as I say and I’ll show you through the courts,”’ she added.

In Worden’s parents’ complaint, they agreed that McClain’s actions were part of a ‘highly calculated and manipulative campaign’ to obtain custody of Worden’s son, who she had given birth to about a year before the couple got married.

Beth elaborated Monday, saying that she felt her daughter was being ‘held hostage’ by her former lover and that the demands of McClain were affecting Briggs, causing the six-year-old stress

‘It seems like right now Anne controls our life,’ Beth continued. ‘We have to be home at 7 o’clock, three nights a week, so she can FaceTime with him. Well that’s the time that we’re eating dinner, just getting home from soccer practice, and then every other Saturday she gets to see him so that takes him away from us.

‘I loved Anne. I thought she was a good person back when I met her, and I don’t know what’s happened, but I just wish Anne would realize this is not her son. Just let Briggs be with his family. That’s all I want to happen,’ Beth concluded.

Worden said the real ‘catalyst’ for their divorce came in the shape of McClain and her repeated requests to legally adopt Briggs, which she turned down even when the pair were married

Worden said the real ‘catalyst’ for their divorce came in the shape of McClain and her repeated requests to legally adopt Briggs, which she turned down even when the pair were married

McClain and Worden’s divorce proceedings are set to begin in Houston next month

McClain and Worden’s divorce proceedings are set to begin in Houston next month

Worden concurred, adding: ‘I want Anne to take the pressure off and drop the case and be a nice person. If she ever wants to have a relationship with Briggs or talk with Briggs or be informed on Briggs’ life, clearly just as a decent human being, the right thing to do is to stop trying to force and take through the court system.’

In a tweeted statement, McClain said she she strenuously denies having ‘done anything wrong or inappropriate’, describing her separation from Worden as being ‘painful and personal’.

‘There is absolutely no truth to these claims that I have done anything wrong or inappropriate. Summer and I have been going through a painful and personal separation that is now unfortunately playing out in the media,’ her tweet read. ‘I appreciate all the outpouring of support, and I will reserve any further comment until after the investigation concludes. I have complete confidence in the IG process.’

Worden told the New York Times that the FTC had not yet responded to her identity theft claims, but that investigators were accessing her family’s complaint to NASA.

NASA officials declined to comment on its Office of the Inspector General’s actions regarding the claims against McClain.

McClain and Worden’s divorce proceedings are set to begin in Houston next month.



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