I worked for Social Security for about a year and if you accessed a file that you had no right to see you were fired and could possibly face criminal charges. It was zero tolerance policy unless it happened accidentally which was possible. This lady had intent and that is why she needs to be fired.
Since she purposely violated the law, I suspect this 13 year employee is confident that her union will make sure little comes of it.
I still wonder about other databases; I don't have a whole lot of confidence that it doesn't happen fairly often. Once I had access to some information from multiple banks. It never occurred to me to look up anybody during that time or misuse it in any way.
It's strange, I was laid off and watched while I packed up my stuff and accompanied to the door. Before that, I sometimes worked all night alone by myself, could have done anything but never did or would.
Some time later they paid me a consultant fee to come back in find a bug, and fix a payroll program which I did. Then they offered me a job back, but I decided not to after my current boss advised me if they did it to me once, they would do it again. I think they finally folded or relocated, so it's just as well.
I had a security clearance and access to other sensitive information, it was a huge matter of honor never to divulge it, can't imagine doing it for any sum of money. That's the way a lot of people used to be; they took it that seriously. Anybody who violated the ethical code was treated as you said.