Four Senate Judiciary Computer Servers Seized In Memos Probe

Drudge Report ^ | Mon Nov 24 2003 09:49:17 ET

[Brian Mosely]

Four Senate Judiciary Computer Servers Seized In Memos Probe

Mon Nov 24 2003 09:49:17 ET

The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms took possession of the Judiciary Committee's four computer servers Friday and formally opened an investigation into how more than a dozen memos written by two Democratic Senators ended up in the hands of a pair of newspapers, ROLL CALL is reporting.

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Democrats suspect the memos, which detailed political strategy on how to block or delay confirmation of several of President Bush's judicial nominees, were stolen from the servers and subsequently given to The Wall Street Journal editorial page and The Washington Times.

Both newspapers published excerpts of the memos.

Sergeant-at-Arms Bill Pickle said the four servers and computer backup tapes would be examined by an 'outside forensic team' to see if the memos were in fact stolen from the server. The Capitol Police secured the backup tapes last Monday at the request of the Judiciary Committee leadership after Democrats called for an investigation into their alleged theft."

Pickle, "the chief law enforcement official in the Senate, said he received a bipartisan directive from Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D- S.D.), Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and the panel's ranking member, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), to launch the investigation. ...

Pickle said he is not sure how long the investigation would take, but noted it would include using both the private forensic experts as well as internal resources to determine if the memos written to Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) by their respective staffs were stolen."

Developing...

[talleyman]

"What we need is an investigation here!" - okay,let's see ALL the emails and memo's - we paid for 'em!

[expatpat]

....computerized balloting is just 'hunky-dory' with them

Actually, the DUcreeps are paranoid about computer voting ever since they found out that the CEO of Diebold is conservative.

[xzins]

I wonder if Echelon can be used to tap into and out of the information network on Capitol Hill?

[js1138]

"Well I was just returning home from Christmas shopping at Radio Shak and happened to turn on my new Centrino laptop, when what should appear, but dozens of files indicating a treasonous conspiracy to attack the Commander-in-Chief in time of war. I had no choice but to record these memos and turn them over to the Fourth Estate."

[boris]

Daniel Ellsberg did it.

[mass55th]

"Democrats suspect the memos, which detailed political strategy..."

Are political activities such as these memos allowed in Federal buildings? I work for the state, and we can't do any political activities on state grounds.

[BushisTheMan]

Plus, there is every indication that a DEM staffer "leaked".

Finally, a Democrat with a conscious. Never thought I'd see the day. LOL

[NativeNewYorker]

Why does a small shop like that have FOUR servers?

[an amused spectator]

You'd be surprised at the computer demands made by stupid, important people. ;-)

[pctech]

Do I smell a Watergate type investigation here?

[Libloather]

Developing...

I would say so...

[concerned about politics]

Hmmmm. No mention of the Democrats considering a Hispanic judge to be dangerous, or females and minorties who think outside the collective being neandrathols, or using intl info against a sitting president? How odd. Why pick at the little stuff, and leave the huge part of the story untouched?
Being a little biased, Drudge?

[concerned about politics]

His outrage at this disclosure contrasts with the notable lack of concern that his fellow Democrats showed some years back over the leak of the Anita Hill charges against then Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.

Or all the attacks against the patriotic women who helped the country impeach a discraceful ex-president.

[concerned about politics]

(Hardball just asked Clark if he was for gay marraige - 4 times "yes or no" - and Clark would not answer. This issue is ours to use freely.)

I want more info on who wrote the memos. We'll find out later how they were leaked. That's not the important part. There's attacks against minorities, free thinkers, and a sitting president. I want answers from the press, not spin.

[Never2baCrat]

I don't think we have to worry about a cover-up if Leaky Leahy is on the investigating team!

[Lancey Howard]

Why does this sound suspiciously like the first reports of a "burglary" at the Watergate Hotel?

[Alamo-Girl]

Hmmmm .... great catch!

[UCANSEE2]

Hmmmm......

Reading between the lines.......

We have taken the servers in for questioning. (imagine scenes of a netserver sitting in a chair under bright lights in a smoke filled room, being harassed by detectives asking questions)

This stinks. Now that they have it under 'investigation' that means, MOVE ALONG, NOTHING TO SEE HERE. We will let you know if we find anything out.

[syriacus]

Again the rats are caught up to their eyebrows in the septic tank, they made and filled up. Now they are trying to blame us for noticing the stench from them.

LOL. Good explanation.

[Grampa Dave]

Blaming the republicans in this matter is like blaming the Rotor Rooter guy after he responded to a house call re a stuffed up septic tank.