from nytimes.com
Now this is just ridiculous: The NYT has scored another hot scoop by buying an embargoed book at a bookstore. Today they break the news that embattled former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina ordered investigations into board leaks and contact with journalists before her ouster in February 2005, courtesy of Fiorina's new book, Tough Choices. Not a tough choice for one bookseller: Deciding to break the embargo and sell the book, apparently. Per the NYT:
Her book, "Tough Choices" (Portfolio Hardcover), which is embargoed for release on Tuesday and has been made available to reviewers only if they sign a nondisclosure agreement, was purchased at a bookstore yesterday by a reporter for The New York Times.
Where is this bookstore and are they stocking the next Harry Potter?
Fiorina, whose departure from HP was big news, has so far been largely left out of the unfurling spy scandal, but her book reveals that she authorized the original investigation, assigning it to external counsel Larry Sonsini, Silicon Valley honcho and chairman of top firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati. According to Business Week, Sonsini was operating on the assumption that 'pretexting' was within the ambit of legal activity; the California Attorney General's office does not agree, as they have just charged five HP execs with "use of false pretenses to obtain confidential information; unauthorized access to computer data; identity theft; and conspiracy to commit each of those crimes." Charged are HP chairwoman Patricia Dunn , former H-P chief ethics lawyer Kevin Hunsaker and private investigators Ronald DeLia, Joseph DePante and Bryan Wagner. Sordid. And, expensive: each crime carries a fine of up to $10,000 plus three years in jail.
