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Here's a question -how many would have clearance for this information- and moreover what earthly purpose would they have for bringing it HOME? I've not followed up today- but are we CERTAIN this was a (stupid beyond words) mistake..or is it possible there's something more ominous here?

Hi Mom! (grin) As far as who would have clearance for this information... as a data analyst I'm confident he had both the need to know and the necessary clearance for access to the data. Protection of this data would have come under the heading 'sensitive' or FOUO (for official use only) - but not under a national security classification per say.

Is there something more ominous here? Well, until we're made privy to the details - we can only hypothesize of course.... and that may not be in the best interest of the government, because our imaginations can surely come up with some creative scenarios!

Conclusions I draw, based solely upon my personal experience and knowledge of government rules, etc.

1) he at least misappropriated government property by taking home either the data or the computer or both.

2) he violated in house policy by taking the data home and placing it at risk.

3) he is guilty of suffering a loss of government property through neglect

I find it a little disturbing that we haven't been made aware of the details... thus my imagination conjures up the possibility that the VA employee's last name is hyphenated with an Al-somethingorother.... see what I mean about not being provided the details? My opinion - if you believe this was all just a horrible mistake, then you believe the two Saudis who got on the school bus the other day just made a horrible mistake too. Or, maybe my imagination is just taking over in that matter too :-)