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Memogate

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'''Memogate''', also being called '''Cybergate''', is "was the internal [[U.S. Senate ]] investigation "into whether [[Republican Party|Republican]] aides unethically (and perhaps illegally) tapped into [[Democratic Party|Democratic ]] computer files containing private judicial-nomination strategy memos and leaked them to the press." [http://slate.msn.com/id/2095803/]-----------Associated Press writer Jesse J. Holland reported on April 26, 2004, that, on Monday, the [[Department of Justice]] asked, [[David N. Kelley]], "the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York ... to investigate how Republicans got access to Democrats' computer memos in the Senate Judiciary Committee." [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20040426/ap_on_go_co/judiciary_memos]
Eric Lichtblau's April 27, 2004, ''New York Times'' article Neil A. Lewis [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/0403/2705/politics/27PROB05LEAK.html "Justice Dept. Opens Inquiry on Memo Theft"?th=&pagewanted=print&position= wrote] says that "The opening of the criminal inquiry increases the significance of the case, which has provoked open hostilities between Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee in their continuing battle over President Bush's judicial nominations." ---------Neil A. Lewis, reporting for the March 5, 2004, edition of the ''New York Times'' wrote: [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/05/politics/05LEAK.html?th=&pagewanted=print&position=]
:"For 18 months, at least two Republican Senate staff aides engaged in unauthorized and possibly illegal spying by reading Democratic strategy memorandums on a Senate computer system, according to a report released on Thursday by the Senate sergeant-at-arms.
:"The 65-page report concluded that the two Republican staff aides, both of whom have since departed, improperly read, downloaded and printed as many as 4,670 files concerning the Democrats' tactics in opposing many of President [[Bush's judicial nominees]]. The report, the result of an investigation undertaken at the request of the Senate Judiciary Committee, suggested that many other Republican staff aides may have been involved in trafficking in the stolen documents."
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=== Related SourceWatch Resources ===
*[[Bush administration leaks]]
*[[Bush administration smear campaigns]]
*[[Coalition for a Fair Judiciary]]
*[[Orrin G. Hatch]]
=== External Links ===
 '''Headlines''' *[http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/000843.html 25 November 2003]: "[[Orrin G. Hatch]]'s Staff Stole Democratic Memos," ] ''LeftCoaster'', November 25, 2003.*Christopher Smith, [http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Nov/11262003/utah/114498.asp 26 November 2004]: ""Hatch says he's 'shocked' at hacking of files. Sen Orrin Hatch has suspended a staffer," by Christopher Smith, ] ''The Salt Lake Tribune'', November 26, 2003.*Alexander Bolton, [http://www.contracostatimeshillnews.com/mldnews/cctimes112603/news/7353905hatch.htm 26 November 2003]: aspx "Orrin Hatch puts staffer on leave" by Jim Abramssuspends GOP aide. Source of leaks from Judiciary Committee found, AP: "Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch said Tuesday he had put one of his staffers on administrative leave for improperly obtaining data from the secure computer networks of two Democratic senators. .] ''The Hill'', November 26, 2003.*Jim Abrams, [http://www.contracostatimes. com/mld/cctimes/news/7353905.htm "Orrin Hatchputs staffer on leave, R-Utah] Associated Press (''Contra Costa Times''), said preliminary interviews suggested that a former Republican member November 26, 2003: "Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch said Tuesday he had put one of his staffers on administrative leave for improperly obtaining data from the committee staff may have also been involved in penetrating the secure computer networks of two Democratic computerssenators. .."*[http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/01/22/infiltration_of_files_seen_as_extensive?mode=PF 22 January 2004]: "Infiltration Hatch, R-Utah, said preliminary interviews suggested that a former Republican member of files seen as extensivethe committee staff may have also been involved in penetrating the Democratic computers. Senate panel's GOP staff pried on Democrats" by *Charlie Savage, ''Boston Globe''.*[http:[http://querywww.nytimesboston.com/gstnews/nation/articles/2004/abstract.html?res=FB0614F63A5D0C708EDDA80894DC404482 23 January 2004 (Abstract)]: 01/22/infiltration_of_files_seen_as_extensive?mode=PF 22 "Infiltration of files seen as extensive. Senate Inquiry Into Memos That Went Astray Nears Endpanel's GOP staff pried on Democrats," by Neil A. Lewis, ] ''New York TimesBoston Globe'', January 22, 2004.*Neil A. Lewis, [http: "Senate sergeant-at-arms William Pickle says he is nearing end to investigation into how several confidential memorandums written by Democratic staff aides about dealing with judicial nominations ended up in hands of Republican staff members; //query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0614F63A5D0C708EDDA80894DC404482 (Abstract) "Senate Inquiry Into Memos That Went Astray Nears End,"] ''New York Times'', January 23, 2004: "Senate sergeant-at-arms William Pickle began his probe after Democrats complained that their says he is nearing end to investigation into how several confidential memorandums were being stolen and distributed to conservative news outletswritten by Democratic staff aides about dealing with judicial nominations ended up in hands of Republican staff members; Pickle says he will issue report to Judiciary began his probe after Democrats complained that their confidential memorandums were being stolen and distributed to conservative news outlets; Pickle says he will issue report to Judiciary Committee." *Jack Shafer, [http://slate.msn.com/id/2094333/ 23 January 2004]: "''Globe'', Too Hot; ''Times, Too Cold''. ''Roll Call'' gets the stolen Democrat files scandal just right," by Jack Shafer, ] ''Slate'', January 23, 2004.*Mary Curtius, [http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/7785255.htm 24 January 2004]: "Spying incident riles judiciary panel. Sergeant at Arms William Pickle is trying to determine who accessed parts of 15 memos dealing with Democratic strategy on judicial nominations," by Mary Curtius, ] ''Los Angeles Times''.(''Miami Herald''), January 24, 2004.*Robert Vamosi, [http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/AnchorDesk/4520-7297_16-5118530.html 26 January 2004]: "Security breach on Capitol Hill: It's criminal," by Robert Vamosi] ZDNet, ''ZDNet''January 26, 2004.*Mark Rasch, [http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/219 9 February 2004]: "The first fallout from Cybergate. Did Republican staffers commit a crime by clicking on the 'My Network Places' icon to access Democratic memos?" by Mark Rasch, ] ''Security Focus'', February 9, 2004.*Charles Hurt, [http://seattletimes.nwsourcewashingtontimes.com/textnational/2001857021_memos1320040211-102204-9040r.html 18 February 2004]: htm "'Memogate' spurs bipartisan demand Conservatives call for Senate inquiryprobe," by Helen Dewar, ] ''The Washington PostTimes'', February 12, 2004.*Helen Dewar, [http://slateseattletimes.msnnwsource.com/idtext/2095770/ 19 February 2004]: 2001857021_memos13.html "'Memogate. The Judiciary Committee computer scandal is one gnarly sausage' spurs bipartisan demand for Senate inquiry," by Dahlia Lithwick, ] ''SlateWashington Post'', February 18, 2004.*Dahlia Lithwick, [http://slate.msn.com/id/20958032095770/ 20 February 2004]: "SenMemogate. Orrin Hatch. If this conservative senator isn't safe from conservative attacksThe Judiciary Committee computer scandal is one gnarly sausage, is anyone?" by Michael Crowley, ] ''Slate'', February 19, 2004.*Michael Crowley, [http://wwwslate.reutersmsn.com/newsArticleid/2095803/ "Sen. Orrin Hatch.jhtmlIf this conservative senator isn't safe from conservative attacks, is anyone?type=politicsNews&storyID=4501302 4 March "] ''Slate'', February 20, 2004].*[http: "About 4,700 Democratic Files Improperly Obtained" by Thomas Ferrano, Reuters//leahy.senate.*[http:gov/press/200403/www030104.nytimes.com/html Letter: "Judiciary Democrats Send New Letter To Ashcroft On Stolen Memos,"] Office of U.S. Senator [[Patrick Leahy]], February 27, 2004.*Thomas Ferrano, [http:/03/05www.reuters.com/politics/05LEAKnewsArticle.htmljhtml?thtype=politicsNews&pagewantedstoryID=print&position= 5 March 2004]: 4501302 "Report Finds Republican Aides Spied on DemocratsAbout 4,700 Democratic Files Improperly Obtained," by Neil A] Reuters, March 4, 2004. Lewis*Robert Lemos, ''New York Times''.*[[http://story.news.yahoocom.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&e=12&u=/ap/judiciary_memos 2100-1029_3-5170987.html "GOP clerks nabbed Democratic data, says probe,"] C|Net News, March 5 March , 2004].*Neil A. Lewis, [http: "Senators Ponder How to Handle Memo Theft" by Jesse J//www.nytimes. Holland, AP: "Democrats are calling for an outside investigation into the theft of memos from their computer files since a new report blames two Senate com/2004/03/05/politics/05LEAK.html?th=&pagewanted=print&position= "Report Finds Republican staffers for the intrusion.Aides Spied on Democrats,"*[http://www] ''New York Times'', March 5, 2004.latimes*Jesse J.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-hacker5mar05Holland, "Senators Ponder How to Handle Memo Theft," Associated Press,1March 5,1454790.story?coll=la-news-a_section 5 March 2004]: 2004: "Hacking Incident Riles Democrats" by Mary Curtius, ''Los Angeles Times''are calling for an outside investigation into the theft of memos from their computer files since a new report blames two Senate Republican staffers for the intrusion." Note: SergeantLink no longer active.*Mary Curtius, [http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-atna-Arms William Pickle's "reporthacker5mar05, based on interviews with more than 160 staffers and others1, says Manuel Miranda1454790.story?coll=la-news-a_section "Hacking Incident Riles Democrats, who was a lawyer on the staff of Senate Majority Leader [[Bill Frist"]] of Tennessee''Los Angeles Times'', and Jason LundellMarch 5, a clerk working on judicial nominations on Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Orrin G. Hatch2004: Sergeant-at-Arms William Pickle's staff"report, pilfered the memos by entering the computer files of Democratic staff members. ... According to the reportbased on interviews with more than 160 staffers and others, more than 4says Manuel Miranda,000 documents were copied beginning in 2001who was a lawyer on the staff of Senate Majority Leader [[Bill Frist]] of Tennessee, and Jason Lundell, when both men worked for a clerk working on judicial nominations on Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah)'s staff, and continued for 18 monthspilfered the memos by entering the computer files of Democratic staff members. ."*[http://www.sltrib.com/2004/mar/03052004/utah/144963.asp 5 March 2004]: "Probe finds exAccording to the report, more than 4,000 documents were copied beginning in 2001, when both men worked for Hatch (R-clerks on Hatch panel hacked files" by Christopher SmithUtah), ''The Salt Lake Tribune'': and continued for 18 months."A Utah clerk *Christopher Smith, [Jason Lundell] on Republican Senhttp://www.sltrib.com/2004/mar/03052004/utah/144963. Orrin asp "Probe finds ex-clerks on Hatch's Judiciary Committee staff secretly combed the confidential computer panel hacked files of Democrats "on an almost daily basis," a Senate investigation has concluded. ... Manuel Miranda] ''Salt Lake Tribune'', another former Hatch staffer who resigned as an aide to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist last monthMarch 5, acknowledged he accessed and read 2004: "A Utah clerk [Jason Lundell] on Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch'two or three' Democratic s Judiciary Committee staff secretly combed the confidential computer filesof Democrats "on an almost daily basis," a Senate investigation has concluded. . The SAA report says there is 'circumstantial evidence' implicating .. Manuel Miranda , another former Hatch staffer who resigned as the an aide to Senate employee who gave the confidential documents to an activistMajority Leader Bill Frist last month, who allegedly leaked them to the news mediaacknowledged he accessed and read 'two or three' Democratic files."*[http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_03_07The SAA report says there is 'circumstantial evidence' implicating Miranda as the Senate employee who gave the confidential documents to an activist, who allegedly leaked them to the news media.html#002662 7 March 2004]"*Joshua Micah Marshall, [http: //www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_03_07.html#002662 "Talking Points Memo" by Josh Marshall: ], March 7, 2004: "As we've noted here at TPM a few times now, one of the questions coming out of the investigation into those pilfered Democratic Judiciary Committee staff memos is whether the GOP staffers in question shared the memos with colleagues at the Justice Department or the White House. ... We've now looked over the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms report on the matter issued last week. And it seems clear that his investigators were prevented from finding out whether or not this happened because of their lack of subpoena and other standard law enforcement powers."*Alexander Bolton, [http://www.thehillhillnews.com/news/031704031004/pickle.aspx 17 March 2004]: "Pickle to take memo report to Justice: New leak probe. GOP suspects that Thursday’s blunder was intentional," by Alexander Bolton, ] ''The Hill'', March 10, 2004.*Alexander Bolton, [http: "Senate Sergeant at Arms Bill //www.thehill.com/news/031704/pickle.aspx "Pickle said Tuesday that he would give his report on how Republican aides obtained internal Democratic Judiciary Committee memos to the Justice Department for a possible criminal prosecutionto take memo report to Justice,"] ''The Hill'', March 17, 2004: "Senate Sergeant at Arms Bill Pickle said Tuesday that he would give his report on how Republican aides obtained internal Democratic Judiciary Committee memos to the Justice Department for a possible criminal prosecution."*Jesse J. Holland, Associated Press, April 26, 2004: The [[U.S. Department of Justice]] asked, [[David N. Kelley]], "the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York ... to investigate how Republicans got access to Democrats' computer memos in the Senate Judiciary Committee." Note: Link no longer active.*Eric Lichtblau, [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/27/politics/27PROB.html "Justice Dept. Opens Inquiry on Memo Theft,"] ''New York Times'', April 27, 2004: "The opening of the criminal inquiry increases the significance of the case, which has provoked open hostilities between Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee in their continuing battle over President Bush's judicial nominations." *[http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/26/senate.computer.files/ "Leahy: Justice Department to probe leaked files. Report said GOP staffers accessed Democratic memos,"] CNN, April 27, 2004."
[[Category:Scandals]]

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