BREAKING NEWS: No Indictment in Palin Hacking

American Spectator ^ | 09/23/08 | American Spectator

[Artemis Webb]

A federal grand jury in Chattanooga, Tenn., reportedly adjourned today without delivering an indictment in the hacking of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's personal e-mail account.

The grand jury heard testimony this morning from three friends of University of Tennessee student David Kernell, according to the Chattanooga Times-Free Press, but ended its session around noon without returning an indictment.

[gathersnomoss]

Now, who here did not see this coming? Same crap, different day. Get used to it, corruption is everywhere. Follow the money, and the sucking sound.

Welcome to Communist Amerika.

[snarkytart]

Talk to The American Spectator, that's their headline.

[snarkytart]

Did you read the article, or just the headline?

[LowOiL]

I can’t believe this, I can’t fathom this at all. What is wrong with America... Think I am gonna be sick.

[frogjerk]

In Texas, and many other states, it is common for the prosecutor to take wait until a case is completely worked up, then take it to the Grand Jury, which either votes to indict (a True Bill), or to not indict (a No Bill). In the Federal system, they do that too, but they also, far more often than in State Court, use the Grand Jury to futher the investigation. This kid's friends can tell the FBI or Secret Sevice to pound sand, and refuse to answer any question likely to inciminate their friend. They have to answer the questions of the Grand Jury (or the questions the Assistant US Attorney asks on behalf of the Grand Jury), or face going to jail for contempt. No indictment after the first time a Federal Grand Jury hears from witnesses in a case is not news. An indictment would have been news, and widely condemned as a rush to judgment.

I was just on Grand Jury for 18 weeks, once a week. We voted to true bill after about 30 minutes of deliberation as long as the prosecutor had their case together.

My guess is what happened here is that IF the case was presented to the grand jury and then IF they voted true BILL it may not be handed up until the session is complete. We handed up all of the indictments at that time except for the high profile cases (cold case, etc...) I cannot see why there would not be an indictment IF the Government can come up with some credible evidence. The fact that they moved in so quick to search tells me that they had some good computer forensics to go on.

[Post Toasties]

It wasn’t ‘just a stupid stunt’. The hacker said he intended to use the illegally obtained information against the McCain/Palin campaign if the opportunity presented itself. That’s a threat.

[Post Toasties]

It wasn’t ‘just a stupid stunt’. The hacker said he intended to use the illegally obtained information against the McCain/Palin campaign if the opportunity presented itself. That’s a threat.

[ConservativeGreek]

Wow,Justice on speed!

Evidence is taken on Sunday.

Then in 24 hours they have charges and three witnesses sworn and prepared for the Grand Jury

The secret Grand Jury proceedings are known within one hour of their recess.

I don’t buy any of it.
I been on Grand Jury twice. It doesn’t work this way.

[Canedawg]

“The next few years should prove very interesting.
Lock & load.”

Yep, especially if that “civilian security force” comes around to try to take your guns.

BTW the title of this thread is misleading. there is nothing wrong with proceeding with some deliberation before issuing an indictment. Patience, grasshoppers.

[DoughtyOne]

Well, I am hoping this process is ongoing and the kid will face serious charges.

He didn’t just hack the email of an office associate. He hacked what may soon be the second most powerful person on earth, with evil intentions. This is being passed off by some as a prank, when it’s really something far worse.

He was trying to destroy Palin. And now some are worried he may be destroyed. Not me. This kid deserves to have his world turned upside down.

[proudtobeanamerican1]

Yeah, the October surprise will be that she is in a prayer chain!

Goodness sakes, let’s just give the race to Obama now.

[Artemis Webb]

I just ran across it on Drudge and posted what the link sent me to. I do agree that it's not really “breaking news” but for good reason the mods don't like titles being changed.

[Iron Munro]

If this is simply the unilateral act of a college kid, I don’t see the point of giving him a criminal record for a stupid stunt.

Get one to hack into Barack's or Michelle's e-Mail account and see what happens and how fast it happens.

You would see the book thrown at the hacker including charges of hate crimes. And he (or she) would be waiting for the indictment in a federal pen, not out walking the streets and surfing the net.

[LivingNet]

That is not correct. I was on a Federal Grand Jury and we met every other Wednesday for a whole year (yes, you heard me right, we were on the jury for a year).

[Red_Devil 232]

Jim Robinson had a post on a thread yesterday explaining that they had just received 3 new servers and that John was in the process of installing and transferring what ever keeps FR up and running to them. Once completed FR should speedy once again and ready for all the traffic created by this election.

We are probably just experiencing John working out a few problems during this process.

[rottndog]

Just because some idiot at American Spectator posts a fraudulent headline is not an excuse to do likewise here at FR.

[Publius6961]

Members of a Grand Jury usually serve for a year at a time, and its members must be identifiable.

Otherwise, it's known as a Star Chamber...

Just saying.

[snarkytart]

Take that up with the admin.
We are not suppose to alter the main headline of an article.

[mnehring]

I’ve been on a couple and every time, we basically came in every day for two weeks.

It may vary from state to state or district to district.

[SirFishalot]

Federal Grand Juries seat for 18 months and none of the participants are even allowed to acknowledge who or what they are hearing or deliberating on. This story is a crock!