Hackers Claim Palin E-Mail Break-In

Leaked E-Mails Include Personal Messages From Yahoo! Account Used For Official Business

(AP)  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.

[dibs977]

I am responding to the comment about the "far left is becoming America''s Al-Qaeda." How can you say that? Lincoln was a liberal killed by the far right and so was JKF and Bobbie and Martin Luther King and hundreds of black men who were lynched and *** drug behind trucks and doctors bombed etc. etc. etc---all by the far right and all in my life time except for Lincoln. Yes, I know Lincoln was a Republican but he ran against a Whig---and the parties have evolved and are not similar to what they are today. The far right has resorted to violence on a routine basis and are still a threatening menace just waiting to explode. And it is very wrong that hackers broke into Palin''s account, but I know that Obama had nothing to do with it. He is a good and kind and brilliant man who reminds me of Lincoln. I pray to God that our nation may be lifted up with love and truth---and that is offered by Obama.

[raskal_2]

People use passwords that they can remember, most are complacent and lazy. When doing security counseling for business concerns you would not believe how often I am able to turn over a keyboard in front of a CEO at his secretary''s desk and reveal the company''s password secrets. I am not at all surprised by a personal password hack, It''s bloody easy. Just look at the make up of the husband''s email account. I personally don''t waste my time it is boring bla, bla, bla. who gives a c-r-a-p.

[bec67]

Anyone still supporting Obama should be removed from life support, they are brain dead.

[bec67]

Suprise, Suprise, the son of a Democratic member of the Tennessee House, Rep. Mike Kernell is under investigation for the email hacking. The left wing dems are America''s Al-Qaeda.

[aceshigh333-2009]

Posted by EddyNewHopes at 05:46 PM : Sep 18, 2008

You think Bush was bad. Bush is a bird dropping compaired to was Obama''s pile of bull manure that he''ll bring. I''ll vote to cancell out your chances.

Obama= Polosi''s puppet

[jockh]

She should stop using Yahoo for her government business and use Hotmail, like George Bush, who uses Hotmail to run his War on Terror !!

[aceshigh333-2009]

Posted by StLouisMan3 at 05:28 PM : Sep 18, 2008
THE BIG DEAL IS THAT IT IS ILLEGAL! AND VERY SERIOUS IF THE HACKER IS INVOLVED IN OBAMA''''S CAMPAIGN!

I wouldn''t be suprised
Obama, a disaster waiting to be elected....

[aceshigh333-2009]

Palin''s privacy illegaly violated. No comment from Obama.
Obama is worried about terrorist rights...

Obama, a disaster waiting to be elected....

[mbourn2]

Hopefully the FBI will deal with these individuals appropriately. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (18 USCA 2511) provides in relevant part:

(1) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter any person who--


(a) intentionally intercepts, endeavors to intercept, or procures any other person to intercept or endeavor to intercept, any wire, oral, or electronic communication;

......

(c) intentionally discloses, or endeavors to disclose, to any other person the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic communication, knowing or having reason to know that the information was obtained through the interception of a wire, oral, or electronic communication in violation of this subsection;


(d) intentionally uses, or endeavors to use, the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic communication, knowing or having reason to know that the information was obtained through the interception of a wire, oral, or electronic communication in violation of this subsection; or

.....

shall be punished as provided in subsection (4) or shall be subject to suit as provided in subsection (5).

.....

(4)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection or in subsection (5), whoever violates subsection (1) of this section shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

[jcr103]

Let''s be honest, what''s the big deal? One thing they won''''t find in her e-mails: complex discussions of policy matters that contain any thing other than superficial statements and from-the-hip responses.