Washington Post Now Claims "Authorized" to Access MD4BUSH Account

Saturday, November 5, 2005 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

After yesterday's press conference in front of The Washington Post building in downtown Washington, D.C. that criticized The Post for violating their sourcing guidelines and for accessing a FreeRepublic.com account in possible violation of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, an editor for The Post is now claiming authorization to log-in to the account of MD4BUSH.

Earlier this week, Post Maryland editor R.B. Brenner made statements that reporter Matthew Mosk had logged in to MD4BUSH's account "two or three times" after being given the password by an "intermediary" in order to authenticate private messages sent between MD4BUSH and NCPAC on Free Republic.

Brenner has maintained that The Post does not know who MD4BUSH is.

Brenner is reported to have made the following statement to The Post for their story today about the press conference:

"As part of our reporting, we needed to verify that the chat room postings were authentic. We were authorized to view them, and it was appropriate to do so under the circumstances."

Link to Post article here.

[Cicero]

I'd let them worry about it.

[heleny]

"I hate John Kerry and I'm sick of his lies. This is the most important election in history and George Bush must win. If not the Islamic Terrorists will win, there will be more attacks on the states."

I was told long ago in college English courses that newspapers require their articles be written at grade school level so that more of the public can read them. The above statement from MD4BUSH proves it.

Elementary schools -- even in California -- teach children not to write run-on sentences.

[muawiyah]

YOu know, it's going to be funny as all get out when FR is the first one to bust a Liberal media outlet for violating a law Congress passed to protect their friends in Hollywood!

[Admin Moderator]

MD4Bush is not banned.

[petitfour]

fascinating development

[conservative in nyc]

My theory: the WaPo's source is MD4Bush's lawyer. A lawyer could give authority on behalf of his or her client. And a lawyer wouldn't have to reveal his client's identity to the newspaper for the newspaper to think they have authority.

Of course, this is just an educated guess. I have no proof.

[SeaBiscuit]

Which means whomever it is could be reading all this right now.. hmmmm.

[AliVeritas]

Heads up from Newsbusters:

http://newsbusters.org/node/2691

[Congressman Billybob]

Since the interests of FreeRepublic itself are involved here, I prefer not to discuss in public what kinds of legal liability, and from whom, are involved here. I think there may be claims against the Post, but I'll wait until they materialize before saying anything about them.

Sorry to be unusually unhelpful on your question. I trust you understand my reticence.

John / Billybob

[SeaBiscuit]

"How could the Post claim it had valid permission, without knowing who was granting that permission? This may be a violation of the federal internet secrecy statute. It is certainly a violation of the website’s privacy rules, which are presented to all users."

Exactly.

[sourcery]

reporter Matthew Mosk had logged in to MD4BUSH's account "two or three times" after being given the password by an "intermediary"

Key question: Who is this "intermediary"? And if the Post doesn't know, then how do they know they had legally-recognizable authorization? And more importantly, how can they prove it? Seems to me a criminal action could force them to either reveal the identity of the "intermediary," or else suffer a conviction for violating the law.

[Congressman Billybob]

If the intermediary is a lawyer, and acting as a lawyer, that might get the Post off the hook. But it would put the lawyer on the hook. He/she would be presumed to have read the Users
Agreement and understood it. And therefore, would have violated it knowingly.

John / Billybob

[Thebaddog]

This fellow was doing CIA double-agent stuff with an unauthorized ID? Whadda mope.

[shutup_you_idiot]

What do you think are the legal liabilities and financial liabilities that the Washington Post could face if it turns out that MD4Bush is a Washington Post staffer or a Post staffer worked in collusion with whomever MD4Bush is?

You didn't ask me, but I want to put in my 2 cents, if you don't mind.

As far as financial liabilities, I wish I were Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. right about now -- I'd be finding myself a good attorney. This man has not only suffered the loss of a job, but he has suffered great public humiliation, embarrassment and mental anguish. And this significant mental and emotional suffering could possibly be all because of the Wa$shington Po$t.

The same Wa$hington Po$t that Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and JimRob may own this time next year. :)

[Yaelle]

...but as soon as Freepers began to tear their story apart they really backed off and started being very careful.

Yeah, there is precedent, baby. Dan Rather might remember. It is delicious to see them lie their way into a corner. Pass the popcorn.

[NeoCaveman]

When is FR suing?

We may never need another freepathon again if the settlement is large enough.

[Gabz]

You might want to revise your names.......Robert Ehrlich is the Governor - Joseph Steffen is the out of work former staffer.

[Gondring]

It's starting to get some notice outside the FReep arena, too...in fact, a little birdie told me that it's starting to circulate in professional journalism circles, too.

Let's just keep up the pressure until we get disclosure, since the way the WaPo has stated it, they have violated ethical journalism behavior!

[DCPatriot]

"I hate John Kerry and I'm sick of his lies. This is the most important election in history and George bush must win. If not the Islamic Terrorists will win, there will be more attacks on the states."

True or not, that's not something we typically say here

If I were John Kerry, I'd stay out of airplanes and dark alleys.

Reads like they could be setting FreeRepublic up to me.

[Congressman Billybob]

The WashPost has consistently denied that it knows the real identity of MD4Bush. However, now it claims it had "valid authorization" from MD4Bush, without knowing who that was. Hence, the conflict in the Post's position.

John / Billybob