Candidate Passport Files Breached

State Department Workers Snooped Files For Clinton, McCain And Obama; 2 Contractors Fired

(CBS/AP)  State Department workers pried into the supposedly secure passport files of presidential contenders Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain, abashed officials admitted Friday in a revelation that had Condoleezza Rice telephoning the candidates to personally apologize.

The companies that provided the contractors were The Analysis Corp. and Stanley Inc. Stanley is a Virginia-based company that earlier this week won a five-year, $570-million government contract extension to support passport services.

According to agency officials, the first Stanley employee improperly accessed Obama's records on Jan. 9 and was fired within days. The second contractor, employed by The Analysis Corp., pried into similar records on Feb. 21 but was not terminated. The third incident involved another Stanley employee who was swiftly fired.

The Analysis Corporation, says it didn't fire its employee at the department's request. The company says the delay was meant to give authorities time to investigate.

The State Department says that person no longer has access to passport files.

The snooping incidents raised questions as to whether there was political motivation and why two contractors involved were fired before investigators had a chance to interview them. The State Department's inspector general was probing, with the Justice Department monitoring the effort, but Obama said that was not enough. He urged congressional involvement "so it's not simply an internal matter."

The digging into supposedly secure government records on politicians recalled a 1992 case in which a Republican political appointee at the State Department was demoted for searching Bill Clinton's passport records when Clinton was running against President George H.W. Bush.

David Laufman, one of the investigators then, told CBS News correspondent Jim Axelrod that this case sounds different so far.

"It may boil down to simple human folly and voyeurism in the wee hours of the morning," Laufman said, "individuals surfing a database to look for information about famous people."

McCain, the Republican nominee-in-waiting, said there should be "a full investigation" of the new snooping as well as an apology.

Democrat Obama said that better include Congress, not just Bush administration investigators.

"When you have not just one but a series of attempts to tap into people's personal records, that's a problem not just for me but for how our government functions," Obama told reporters in Portland, Ore., where he was campaigning. "I expect a full and thorough investigation. It should be done be in conjunction with those congressional committees that have oversight function so it's not simply an internal matter."

Rice was apologetic in public as well as in her private phone calls to the candidates.

"None of us wants to have a circumstance in which any American's passport file is looked at in an unauthorized way," she said after speaking with Obama.

"I told him that I was sorry, and I told him that I, myself, would be very disturbed if I learned that somebody had looked into my passport file," she added. "And therefore, I will stay on top of it and get to the bottom of it."

The State Department confirmed Thursday night that Obama's files had been compromised on three separate occasions - Jan. 9, Feb. 21 and as recently as last week, on March 14. By the time senior officials were made aware, two contract employees had been fired and a third disciplined, agency officials said. The fact that the two have been fired could make it more difficult for the State Department to force them to answer questions.

Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Friday that a separate search conducted after the first revelation showed that workers also had snooped on McCain and Clinton.

The individual who had been reprimanded in the Obama incident had also reviewed McCain's records earlier this year, McCormack said.

"I can assure you that person's going to be at the top of the list of the inspector general when they talk to people, and we are currently reviewing our (disciplinary) options with respect to that person," McCormack said.

In Clinton's case, someone accessed her file last summer as part of a training session involving another State Department worker. McCormack said the violation was immediately recognized and the person was admonished.

The department's internal computer system "flags" certain records, including those of high-profile people, to tip off supervisors when someone tries to view the records without an appropriate reason.

McCormack said information on the incidents points to workers' "imprudent curiosity" more than something more sinister.

But "we are not dismissive of any other possibility, and that's the reason why we have an investigation under way," he said.

Former Independent Counsel Joseph diGenova, who investigated the 1992 scandal, said the firings of the two contract employees will make the investigation more difficult because the inspector general can't compel them to talk.

"My guess is if he tries to talk to them now, in all likelihood they will take the Fifth," diGenova said, referring to the Fifth Amendment's protection against self-incrimination.

Likewise, Patrick Kennedy, the top management official at the State Department, briefed the candidates' staffs on Capitol Hill, then said to reporters, "The State Department has very, very rigorous rules about controls and access for privacy material. We review them regularly and we have a large organization with a lot of people in it. Mistakes and errors happen from time to time. ... We caught these and we've got to work and correct that process."

Attorney General Michael Mukasey said the case has not yet been referred to the Justice Department for investigation, and indicated prosecutors were likely to wait until the State Department's inspector general concludes that inquiry. But Mukasey did not rule out the possibility of the Justice Department taking an independent look.

"Have they asked us to become involved - no," Mukasey said. "When, as, and if we have a basis for an investigation, including a reference - that is, one basis would be a reference - we could conduct one."

Asked what another basis could be, Mukasey said: "I don't want to speculate but if somebody walked in here with a box full of evidence, they wouldn't be turned away."

McCormack declined to name the companies that employed the contractors, despite the urging of a senior House Democrat, Henry Waxman of California, who said such information is in the public interest.

"At this point, we just started an investigation," McCormack said. "We want to err on the side of caution."

Sen. McCain, who was in Paris on Friday, said any breach of passport privacy deserves action.

"The United States of America values everyone's privacy, and corrective action should be taken," McCain said.

It is not clear whether the employees saw anything other than the basic personal data such as name, citizenship, age, Social Security number and place of birth, which is required when a person fills out a passport application.

The file also includes date and place of birth, address at time of application and the countries the person has traveled to.

According to a report in Computer World, the system also stores investigative reports that might have been compiled in connection with granting or denying a passport or in connection with any violation of passport criminal statutes. (Read more about passport applications in the CBSNews.com campaign blog Horserace)

"It is worth noting that that earlier situation (in 1992) also was characterized as isolated and nonpolitical when the news initially emerged," said Howard Berman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"This time, as then, Congress will pay close attention to the depth of executive branch involvement in the rifling of presidential candidates' passport files," he added.

The Washington Times first reported the incident involving Obama.

[tucano2]

Passports of candidates sure ought to be made public, right alongside copies of their IRS returns.

[tulcak]

why do you hate Sen. Obama? are you christian? is god white? are you intolerant?... how can you be a christian then?

[miami_21]

Are you talking about George Washington ?
Posted by IOWEIGN at 01:02 PM : Mar 23, 2008

i had..to..laugh..my as* off..out ..loud..

have a nice day.

[ioweign]

a man that is barely a first generation american running for an office he can''t possibly win unless he has a little help from his "friends"...this really should open up the ball at this point.

Posted by miami_21 at 11:20 AM : Mar 23, 2008


Are you talking about George Washington ?

[subscriber2-2009]

NEW KIND OF POLITICS?

Here%u2019s one highlight: Obama sought money for the University of Chicago Hospitals. Wife Michelle works for the University of Chicago Hospitals, appointed in spring 2005 as vice president for community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals.

So much for %u201Cchanging%u201D the way Washington works. This earmark will obviously raise some questions about propriety and conflict of interest!!

His wife''''s income as an administrator at the not-for-profit University of Chicago Hospitals nearly tripled to $316,962, from $121,910.

NOBAMA 08!!




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Posted by OBAMASGRANNY at 12:31 PM : Mar 23, 2008

[subscriber2-2009]

What''''s really interesting about Mr. Obama''''s tenure in the Illinois senate is that for six years, the senate was controlled by republicans. During that time Mr. Obama''''s great number of proposed legislation, simply died on the floor.

Yet the claims all this wonderful success of having sponsored 800 pieces of legislation in his tenture.

In fact, the piece of legislation that he can claim he sponsored and co-sponsored only had ANY support was in the last year of his term.

In fact, the only way he even got to sponsor any legislation was because the senior senator, Jones, threw ALL proposed legislation his way, and didn''''t let another senator write any bills. It was a total polical manipulation.

Mr. Obama ducked out on writing legislation key to his district for demolition of slumb buildings, guess why? And key politicians in Chicago contend that they are not happy with the qualify of life in their communities and that Mr. Obama ducked on some really key issues.

Since that time, Mr. Obama has released all of his US senate earmarks of which $300 million went into Mr. Jones district. Smacks of payola doesn''''t it?


Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 12:12 PM : Mar 23, 2008

[subscriber2-2009]

Ziggy Brzezinski is Obama''''s long time foreign policy guru and handler. We are paying for his Afghanistan policy under Carter and Reagan today-- the funding and support of militant Islam.



Posted by Prinzowhales at 12:07 PM : Mar 23, 2008

[subscriber2-2009]

Adoph Hitler made a "damage control speech" to settle the Holocaust thing once and for all...His speech, so eloquent and moving...so full of hope, entitled, "It''''''''s all the Jews fault"...so, all is forgiven..."Move along, nothing to see here folks," sez Officer Bob Brady...Pastor Wright was really saying "I love America" when he said "God D*amn America..." Obama explained it all so well..."Move along folks..."

Posted by Prinzowhales at 09:59 AM : Mar 23, 2008
__________________
obama book '''' audacity of hope'''' sounds like wright''''s sermon ''''audacity for hope'''' ...
evil

Yes the german people really thought hitler had the answer with his slimy speeches full of hate against peoples. The clues were all there. His propaganda minister joseph goebbels, remember him? absolute hatred. wright is fixing to be obamas progaganda ''''minister''''.

[subscriber2-2009]

His name is Barack Hussein Obama Jr. (Barack means"blessed by God" in Arabic and comes directly from the Koran, Hussein is the male given name among Muslims, after Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.} Born to a Black Muslim father and a white mother. From age 6 to 10 Barack Hussein lived in a Muslim country and he attended school there including Basuki school. According to Islamic law, if he was born to a Muslim father, he is by Islamic law Muslim and always will be Muslim

The church he has attended for the last 20+ years is a black supremacy, anti-semantic, racist church, with ties to the Nation Of Islam, that awarded their highest award, a lifetime achievement award to Louis Farrakhan. If you visit the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago web site in their opening %u201CWho are we%u201D statement says, %u201CWe are an African people, and remain true to our native land, the mother continent, the cradle of civilization.%u201D Their mission statement references W.E.B. Dubois, and their pastor preaches %u201CGod Da** America.%u201D

He has not military service, his refusal to wear an American flag, and his loyalties to this Anti-American church, are indications of where his loyalties lie. Make no mistake about it, Obama Hussein is a Black Power/Islamic Manchurian candidate.


Posted by trapbreak at 09:09 AM : Mar 23, 2008

[miami_21]

a view from behind bars; people do you see? once again i have been proven right, obama is bad news. a man that is barely a first generation american running for an office he can''t possibly win unless he has a little help from his "friends"...this really should open up the ball at this point. what other heinous efforts will this man and his campaign employ to bring the infrastructure down. stay tuned america...

have a nice day.

[providence_-2009]

2000 years ago Jesus paid my sin debt once and for all. It was Gods justice poured out on sin at the cross. The cross is the finished work of Jesus! All I have to do is claim it by calling on Jesus to save me. Now I have eternal life! This is what Easter is all about for Christians. Its allowing us to share Gods Justice, His Wisdom, His Love and His Power to save you and keep you! You can come to know him. Its that simple once you realize that all your sin debt was paid in full at the cross!

[obamasgranny]

Saturday, March 22, 2008
Oops ... Chief of firm involved in passport security breach is Obama adviser

Maybe the headline should read: The Gang That Couldn''t Shoot Straight Wants to Lead Country? It appears the president of the firm involved in the security breach of Sen. Obama''s passport is an Obama adviser on ... well ... security.

And these guys want to be in charge of our national security? Good grief.

The Obama campaign has been trying to pin the blame on the Clinton''s, but that strategy now seems to have blown up in their face.

CNN reports:



The CEO of a company whose employee is accused of improperly looking at the passport files of presidential candidates is a consultant to the Barack Obama campaign, a source said Saturday.

John O. Brennan, president and CEO of the Analysis Corp., advises the Illinois Democrat on foreign policy and intelligence issues, the source said.

Brennan briefed the media on behalf of the campaign this month.

The executive is a former senior CIA official and former interim director of the National Counterterrorism Center. [...]

The Washington Times, which broke the story Thursday night that Obama''s records had been improperly accessed, reported Saturday that the State Department inquiry is focusing on the Analysis Corp. employee.
As I''ve said before, Obama is simply not ready for prime time.

Obama why you disgrace me again?

[skyk-2009]

What is WRONG with you nazi''''s!! I mean is it Possible that YOUR small brain is able to figure out that YOU freaks have been in CHARGE of the Government... YOU are the one''''s who have the POWER to appoint and no appoint people like GONZO, Brown, Libby... I could go on for an HOUR. Anyway THIS Administration has PROVEN BEYOND anyone''''s doubt, except you bootlickers of course, that THEY have and WILL do as bad or worse. If you would like I can give you the web site of the 935 lies this Administration told us, taking us into a needless and useless War. Now GROW UP or get out!! YOU have a record to defend swastika breath I''''d suggest you get on with it. Sieg Heil Bush


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Posted by MCVet at 09:34 AM : Mar 23, 2008
+ report abuse

Sarge you are right. They need to stop this mindless search for some "Marriage Amendment" and talk about the things that ALL of us are concerned about. Thanks for the post!

[mcvet]

Yes, I do, because I know with 100% Certainty that if someone in Bush''''s cabinet was the head of the firm that overlooked these records and this happened, You for one would be burning up the comment section of CBS
Chanting Sieg Heil Bush Sieg Heil Bush Sieg Heil Bush Sieg Heil Bush

With the annoying Redundancy of a child.





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Posted by DSR57 at 07:11 AM : Mar 23, 2008
+ report abuse

What is WRONG with you nazi''s!! I mean is it Possible that YOUR small brain is able to figure out that YOU freaks have been in CHARGE of the Government... YOU are the one''s who have the POWER to appoint and no appoint people like GONZO, Brown, Libby... I could go on for an HOUR. Anyway THIS Administration has PROVEN BEYOND anyone''s doubt, except you bootlickers of course, that THEY have and WILL do as bad or worse. If you would like I can give you the web site of the 935 lies this Administration told us, taking us into a needless and useless War. Now GROW UP or get out!! YOU have a record to defend swastika breath I''d suggest you get on with it. Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

Come on cbs, you''''ve gotten the lib faithful all riled up with this "story". How about an update on spitzer. It has all the elements the libs love, ***, intrique, corruption. Oh but yea, he''''s a dem so it would play here.


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Posted by Xlib at 08:44 AM : Mar 23, 2008
+ report abuse

935 times you bootlickers were lied too. NINEHUNDRED and THIRTY FIVE TIMES you came on here a trashed anyone and everyone who tried to TELL you that. TWO good leaders and two far better men than that piece of Human Trash YOU call a President went through this same tired bashing by you Nazi''s. That gained you POWER. The POWER to run this nation. At that you were a complete and total failure, should I or just about everyone else on here TELL you how? Now here you are doing the same tired old thing to Obama, probably the ONLY chance we have. Now WHO in their right MINDS listens to you freaks?? Sieg Heil Bush!! Folks I have PLANTS SMARTER THAN THESE POOR FOOLS!!

[xlib]

This story has run longer than the spitzer story. Spitzer, the crusading, I''m the law in NY state, stricter penalities for john''s, I break up prostitution rings, I''ll bring morals and etics back to NY state government, that spitzer.

Come on cbs, you''ve gotten the lib faithful all riled up with this "story". How about an update on spitzer. It has all the elements the libs love, ***, intrique, corruption. Oh but yea, he''s a dem so it would play here.

[dsr57]

Whatever, when you guys first look at the headline you automatically think " Bush Did it" Well how can you read this story and know that Obama''s adviser was the head of the fiem and the first thing that comes to mind is "Bush Did It" Yes, you do give a child molester the benefit of the doubt because everyone is innocent until proven guilty, then if someone like that is proven guilty you should be able to kill them. I personally think all Politicians are lying B@stards. BUT I don''t open a headline with a predetermined guilty verdict.

[skyk-2009]

Just like this. The problem with you people that hate bush so much ( not that I''''m a supporter) is that you read into the story so much that you twist your own reality to make yourself believe that Bush had something to do with it.

The problem with having a gut feeling is that you only look for things that agree with your gut


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Posted by DSR57 at 07:16 AM : Mar 23, 2008
+ report abuse

Are you on something?? I mean anyone who has been awake the last 7 years should know full well what the poster is talking about. We have a news story just today of the Computer Hard Drives being distroyed AGAINST the law. Just what in the world does it take for some of you to understand that the 935 lies told by this Administration to start a war was REAL. The Justice Department being turned into an attack agency for this Administration was REAL. The failure of this State Department to protect the files of those running for the Hightest Office in the Land is REAL! My Lord what has to happen for you people to understand? A building falling on you??

[tulcak]

dsr57, of course we all suspect bush and cheney - with good reason. what planet have you been living on while bush and cheney have perpetrated a spree of unconstitutional, illegal, immoral and impeachable offenses even before they took office. This spree is unequalled in its depth and damage in American history. You don''t give a child molester the benefit of a doubt. this breach of privacy and security stinks to high heaven of yet another bush and cheney covert op.

[dsr57]

Somehow you just KNOW Bush and Rove are behind all this. They had the biggest motive to know what was in those files. There needs to be a complete and Independent investigation into this AND a complete and Independent investigation into the computer distruction as well. IF we, as a nation, are to ever recover from the government of the Republican Party, If we are to ever hold our heads up in the World Community again it''''s going to be necessary that we clean up the trash that is the Bush Administration. Sieg Heil Bush .

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Just like this. The problem with you people that hate bush so much ( not that I''m a supporter) is that you read into the story so much that you twist your own reality to make yourself believe that Bush had something to do with it.

The problem with having a gut feeling is that you only look for things that agree with your gut