AP Refuses To Comply With Secret Service Request On Sarah Palin's Hacked E-Mails

WASHINGTON -- Hackers broke into the Yahoo! e-mail account that Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin used for official business as Alaska's governor, revealing as evidence a few inconsequential personal messages she has received since John McCain selected her as his running mate.

"This is a shocking invasion of the governor's privacy and a violation of law. The matter has been turned over to the appropriate authorities and we hope that anyone in possession of these e-mails will destroy them," the McCain campaign said in a statement.

The Secret Service contacted The Associated Press on Wednesday and asked for copies of the leaked e-mails, which circulated widely on the Internet. The AP did not comply.

The disclosure Wednesday raises new questions about the propriety of the Palin administration's use of nongovernment e-mail accounts to conduct state business. The practice was revealed months ago _ prior to Palin's selection as a vice presidential candidate _ after political critics obtained internal e-mails documenting the practice by some aides.

One person whose e-mail to Palin apparently was among those disclosed, Amy B. McCorkell, declined to discuss her correspondence. "I do not know anything about it," McCorkell said. "I'm not giving you any comment." Wired.com said McCorkell later confirmed that she did send the e-mail to Palin.

Another of the e-mails apparently revealed Wednesday was an exchange in July with Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell discussing a talk show host who had been critical of Parnell. Parnell declined to discuss the matter.

Palin herself used "gov.sarah" in one of her e-mail addresses, but the hackers targeted her "gov.palin" account. Her husband used "fek9wnr" in his address. "Fe" is the representation for iron, and "k9" is an abbreviation for canine. Todd Palin was the winner of the grueling Iron Dog snowmobile race, and "fek9wnr" also is Todd Palin's vehicle license tag in Alaska.

It wasn't immediately clear how hackers broke into Palin's Yahoo! account, but it would have been possible to trick the service into revealing her password knowing personal details about Palin that include her birthdate and ZIP code. A hacker also might have sent a forged e-mail to her account tricking her into revealing her own password.

McCorkell was appointed by Palin to an advisory board on issues involving alcohol and drug abuse. One of the leaked e-mails suggested McCorkell wrote to Palin on Sunday to say she was praying for Palin. "Don't let the negative press get you down!" the message said.

Comments

[jsarets]

The AP must be claiming that the Secret Service is unpatriotic. You don't ask questions in a time of war... I mean -- in an election year!

[thegloriouscause]

this plays so well into the republican hand it's not even funny. it reinforces the stereotype that the (associated) press are out to get them, and the message just happened to be about prayer AND negative press. too much coincidence, sez I. I'm thinking the leak was intentional.

[PSRinNJ2]

Wow, Karl Rove has really gotten into your head. Seeing as how this board seems to breed ignorant conspracy theories, it's no surprise that you are buying into such an incredibly stupid idea. Especially since we now know the hacker was the son of a Democrat Party state senator from Tenessee. It may be easier for someone with your limited intelligence to believe a dastardly Rovian plot was a foot, so carry on! You're going to badger McCain and Palin right into the White House!

[wdw101]

oh that was good........and entertaining thank you

[Free2Speak]

I think McCainPalin are up to dirty tricks.They instigated this as a distraction to help hold the shift of support they are suffering this week.There will be many more like this in the coming weeks..

[TheIndependenceParty]

I work on the internet every day, all day. I use a virtual private network to avoid possible intereception of sensitive communications. That is the law with respect to protecting ANY sensitive medical data I access.

Palin, Bush, Rove, and McCain, ... if he knew how to send e-mail, are required as I understand it to use secure servers and e-mail access, ... and to archive their communications. The "executive" nature of their positions REQUIRE it, exactly as if they worked for a company.

What I find mind-boggling is that Palin used a public e-mail ID that specifically referenced herself and her office BY NAME. Oh how the ego can bring on a fall. Good on the AP to withhold the information. In truth, the fact that her e-mail was hacked, which is admittedly a crime, should be handled by the SS and State of Alaska as a gubernatorial security breach. This lady needs to grow up before I'd let her drive, let alone run the country.

[Navy VET EOD]

Using her Yahoo account to communicate official government business, even to other state employees, is a violation of the Alaska Public Records Act. She, and all others who did/do the same thing broke/are breaking state law.

What a surprise.

[AzRealProgressive]

No it is not. Every mail is traceable through Yahoo. Cite the section of the law she broke. I live in a state with the same type of act and many small municipalities use outside mail sources. In fact many are more secure than municipal ones. She can communicate through any account she wants.

[frenchie25]

that's why they call it YA-HOO


http://gawker.com/5051193/sarah-palins-personal-emails

[auntiecairo]

Sooo, Palin et al. don't want to turn over e-mails when subpoenaed but thinks everyone else should have to when they just ask- sounds like more of the Bush admin. to me. . anyone who's dumb enough to send "important" e-mails on a Yahoo account deserves to get hacked. . . is that what she'd do in the White House to try and avoid future discovery requests? Will her husband be copied then too without a security clearance?

[Redrover666]

Would you mind very much sharing your email address with us? Oh yeah, how about your mothers cell phone number and cup size too, sparky? Thanks in advance:)

[wdw101]

i agree

[ShigityShank]

Would you mind very much posting comments that are coherent/relevant/make sense? Thanks in advance:)

[Palemoon]

Mine was georgiadogs.comadogs.com when I was going there, lol. Just don't count on it working right now, but the password was zxjettzx. My mom doesn't have a cellphone number, but her cup size is 38D. And yes, it runs in the family. What of it?

I bet no Republican backer will fess up any information on here. I have no fear. I subscribe to anarchism since a world without leaders would be the best thing that could happen to us.

[tr88]

About 5 years hard time should be about right. Or would that just be if a liberal pol was hacked?

Honestly, I'd have to say a significant number of the posters here are fascists.

[jhNY]

So are you saying that because we would only be upset about all this hacking if it happened to a liberal pol, we're fascists? Honestly, if you had 5 years hard time and did nothing but read books, you'd might still catch up with the class.

[JayVe]

According to the Webster's dictionary, fascism is a " political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition". While I agree hacking someone's email account is a crime and the guilty party should be prosecuted, I don't follow your logic of leaping to the fascist realm. Severe social regimentation and suppression of opposition are Neocon trademarks. Liberals or progressives, whatever we wish to call ourselves, are for more social choices, while those on the opposite end of the spectrum wish to legislate their dogma on the whole of the electorate (ie overturning Roe v Wade, pushing a constitutional ban on same sex marriage, etc.). The two presidents that tried the most sweeping power grabs towards an autocratic government in modern history were Republican, Nixon and our current "leader". How about next time you understand a word before you use it. It saves you from looking like a fool.

[lornejl]

No one should be able to breach other peoples personal or official communications without a court order.
We really should pass an amendment to the Constitution to protect privacy.

[deliriousgod]

the KGB is probably rolling on the floor by now

[TheIndependenceParty]

Sarah can probably " hear them from her house".

[Redrover666]

Course, Obama would have to ask someone.

[Jingo]

A college kid cracks her email. Putin must be kicking himself now that this kid has revealed how easy it would have been to spy on the next VP.

[Jingo]

This woman deserved getting hacked by using a free public email service for government business. The state should have internal email servers for legitimate state use. However, this also allows governmental emails to be subpoenaed which is why she was using a yahoo address. This just supports McCain's brilliant choice not to use computers. If you don't understand technology, how can you be sure that your illegal activities cannot be tracked?

[Clairemont]

"This woman deserved getting hacked" Ooooooh, I see. Terrorists, no. Palin, yes.

It's this that keeps me wondering about Obama and what he truly represents, when such people as yourself are his following. By now that man should have made a public announcement that this is wrong. He hasn't.

The proper authorities are already investigating "this woman"'s private email accounts and will release a statement as to her emailing priorities at the proper legal time and place.

You have not allowed "this woman" the proper legal channels. You have condoned the loss of civil rights for "this woman" when all Democrats should have risen up and said, "We didn't want Bush to do it to Terrorists. We won't let it happen to ANY of us." Doesn't matter whether or not you think Palin was appropriate in her use of email.

I hope America is paying attention. My guess is that the ACLU will defend the hackers in creating a separation of society, those who deserve civil rights and those who don't. The beginning of the end is upon us. Thank you, Democrats.

[GypsyRose]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/18/tennessean-state-reps-son-contacted-palin-e-mail-p/

Oops...........

[GypsyRose]

The "hacker" suspect link, below. And, yes, it IS an invasion of privacy and the culprit should be prosecuted.

[lindsay50312]

What is wrong with you people?

It is wrong when the government hacks into our e-mails, and it is wrong for hackers to illegally read and release the private e-mails of Palin. All of you are probably liberal, dooped by our idiotic media into voting for who you are told to vote for. Why don't you take a chance and do a true objective investigation of the issues instead of just doing what your told to do. What happened to free thinking? When did it become the cool thing to become a mindless zombie. You all should be ashamed of yourselves for condoning a terrible act against Palin. How would you feel if it was Hillary Clinton. Probably outraged. But all you stupid liberals would never stoop to admit that, now would you.

[rosiebond007]

boo hoo

[Redrover666]

Very clever.

[lornejl]

Feigned outrage, not quite Oscar material, but not bad.

[Lerk4]

Hillary Clinton isn't that stupid so not a good example.

[harrymellon]

This government deserves no respect. You all know what time its is.

[dphilip]

Flava Flav is that you?!

[wdw101]

I'll play your silly game......yes i know what time it is .........time to vote for McCain

[AzRealProgressive]

LOL !