Posted on 03/22/2008 11:25:04 AM PDT by smoothsailing
Article published Mar 22, 2008
Passports probe focuses on worker
March 22, 2008
By Bill Gertz and Jon Ward - The State Department investigation of improper computer access to passport records of three presidential candidates is focusing on one remaining employee — a contract worker with a company headed by an adviser to the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama
The probe by State's inspector general will include polygraph tests for supervisors in the passport section to find out whether the three contract employees who accessed the records had a political motive or were part of a political operation to obtain personal data on Mr. Obama, Sen. John McCain or Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Two of the three contract employees had been fired before The Washington Times first reported Thursday on security breaches involving Mr. Obama's passport records. The furor expanded yesterday to incidents involving the passport records of Mr. McCain and Mrs. Clinton.
The third employee, who has not been fired, worked for The Analysis Corporation (TAC), which is headed by John O. Brennan, a former CIA agent who is an adviser to Mr. Obama's presidential campaign on intelligence and foreign policy.
The TAC employee is the only individual to have accessed both Mr. Obama's and Mr. McCain's passport information without proper authorization, a State Department spokesman said. That employee, who was not named, triggered an electronic alarm system, officials familiar with the probe said.
The accessed records have the data provided in passport applications and used by the department to issue or renew travel documents.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said he was unaware of the specific activities of the IG investigation but said all three contract employees will be questioned.
State Department officials said Thursday and yesterday that the intrusions appeared to be the result of "imprudent curiosity"...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I hope the questions asked also include the following:
1. Did you access (fill in the blank)'s passpsort file to determine what information was there that might be of use to that candidate?
2. Did you access (fill in the blank)'s passpsort file to determine what information was there that might be of use to another candidate or another candidate's campaign/
3. Did you access (fill in the blank)'s passpsort file to determine what information was there that might hurt that candidate?
4. Did you access (fill in the blank)'s passpsort file to modify or change any information was there that might hurt that candidate?
I find it interesting that the CEO of a firm whose employees access Obama's passport record is a foreign policy advisor to Obama. Accessing the file may have been done at the Obama campaign's urging so Obama could express his outrage and prevent negative information from that file from actually being leaked to the public.
I wondered too about the TAC CEO being an advisor to Obama. Your second point is something that hadn't dawned on me and it is an intriguing possibility, given Obama's many questionable relationships with highly suspect individuals.
The dust isn't even settling and Waxman is jumping in with both feet. He has other things to do and should let the IG do there job.
Maybe Rep. Henry "Nostrilitus" Waxman thinks the "contract employees" are pro ballplayers. LOL!
A BIG HOORAH FOR OPERATION CHAOS!
LOL!! It’s too bad Kookcinich doesn’t beam Nostrilitus up to his saucer, he’d have much better oversight.
The passport operation has been a tremendous success for the O’Bama campaign.
ROTFLMAO
Waterboard all of the State Dept.
I agree, imagine what those rats would be squealing. It would be the end of the Democrat party.
Mildly deflected; however, it shows that they are desperate and I believe it amplifies his attachment to the philosophy of the UCC.......why run away or try and deflect attention from something that you are so VERY proud of???? Kinda begs the ???? right............
You would just have to put them on the board and bring in the water. They would talk in one second.
Supervisor #1: Because the last time we did this...when we accessed Bush's file...they specifically told us NOT to tell them about it, just put the results behind the water cooler on the 3rd floor when we left for the day.
Supervisor #2: That's right...
Supervisor #3: Ditto, man...he's tellin' it like it is...
The REAL sabateur was interested ONLY in the files of Obama & McCain...
QED
“The accessed records have the data provided in passport applications and used by the department to issue or renew travel documents.”
None of this has made a bit of sense to me because I have never, ever gone to the U.S. Embassy for them to issue me travel documents.
It is none of their business to where I travel.
I suspect those who have been writing these articles don’t understand the process. I use a regular fee (tourist/business) passport. Therefore, they must be talking about the following:
______________
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/nofee/nofee_836.html
Diplomatic, Official, and Regular No-Fee Passports
The Special Issuance Agency, located in Washington, D.C., issues no-fee passports to citizens traveling abroad for the U.S. Government, their dependents (if permitted to accompany them), and certain others who are exempt by law from payment of the passport fee. The type of no-fee passport issued (diplomatic, official, or regular no-fee) depends upon the purpose of travel. The Special Issuance Agency will determine which type is to be issued based upon the purpose of travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When do I use my no-fee passport?
2. May I hold both a No-Fee and Regular Fee Tourist Passport?
3. Can my dependents be included on my no-fee passport?
4. Where will my no-fee passport be delivered?
5. Why do I have to pay the $25.00 execution fee when I apply at a passport acceptance facility?
6. Where do I apply for a no-fee passport?
When Do I Use My No-Fee Passport?
You may use your no-fee passport ONLY when going overseas in discharge of your official duties. You must not use the no-fee passport when you leave the U.S. for personal travel. For personal travel, you need to use a regular fee (tourist/business) passport.
May I Hold Both a No-Fee and Regular Fee Tourist Passport?
You may have both a valid regular fee passport and a valid no-fee tourist passport at the same time. You may want to take both types of passports with you, especially if you plan to take personal travel while overseas. Please be sure that you have the appropriate visas in both your no-fee and tourist passports prior to your departure.
Can My Dependents Be Included On My No-Fee Passport?
No. If your dependents have been authorized to accompany you on your assignment, each one must obtain his or her own individual no-fee passport.
Where Will My No-Fee Passport Be Delivered?
Passport Services generally does not mail no-fee passports directly to the bearer. Instead, they are sent to, or picked up by the organization, government agency, or branch of service sponsoring the passport issuance. Please be sure to fill in the address of the sponsoring facility in the “Mailing Address” block of the application.
Why Do I Have to Pay the $25.00 Execution Fee When I Apply at a Passport Acceptance Facility?
The execution fee is the cost to have your signature witnessed by an authorized passport acceptance agent when you apply in person for your no-fee passport. You are not required to pay the passport fee for a no-fee passport, but if you are executing the application at a passport acceptance facility, they reserve the right to charge you the $25.00 passport execution fee.
Where do I apply for a No-Fee Passport?
The United States Government only issues these types of passports to individuals traveling abroad in connection with official employment. No fees are charged for the issuance of these passports. The type of passport issued is dependent on the purpose of travel or the Government Agency sponsoring the travel. Applicants for these types of passports should contact their respective travel offices for instructions on how to process these applications.
Military applicants should contact their installation travel office.
Federal Government Agency personnel should contact their Agency headquarters travel office.
Peace Corps should contact their travel office.
Department of State personnel should contact their Bureau Executive Office or Personnel Technician.
That seems plain as day and it perfectly aligns with well-established methods of the presumably guilty party.
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