Palin to take stand in Tennessee hacking trial

[Tucker]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4350369

d_r  Donating Member  (418 posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Tue Apr-20-10 09:17 AM
Original message
Palin set to take stand in Tennessee hacking trial
   
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A former college student charged with hacking Sarah Palin's e-mail account fears some jurors in heavily Republican East Tennessee could be dazzled when the conservative star testifies.

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He was a University of Tennessee student majoring in economics when prosecutors say he hacked into the Yahoo! account Palin sometimes used for state business. At the time she was Alaska's governor and the GOP candidate for vice president.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Phillips has denied a defense motion to have prospective jurors answer a questionnaire asking if they have strong political feelings about Palin. Kernell's attorney, Wade Davies, cited Palin's speaking slot at a tea party movement convention and frequent television appearances. She is hugely popular with conservatives.

Convictions on all four felony charges — identity theft, wire fraud, intentionally accessing Palin's e-mail account without authorization and obstructing an FBI investigation — could send Kernell to prison for up to 50 years.

Read more: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/apr/20/palin-se... /


I'm afraid this kid may be screwed - I want to think that if she was using that yahoo email account for public business that it should be legal to out it out in the open, but I am afraid the law and the jury aren't going to agree with me.

They hypocrisy is numbing. Free the democrat hacker but throw O'Keefe in jail.

no limit  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Tue Apr-20-10 09:24 AM
Response to Original message
1. You cant even consider what he did hacking. This is nuts

Then what was it?

Cirque du So-What  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Tue Apr-20-10 09:32 AM
Response to Original message
2. I hope his attorney is up to the task of mounting an effective defense
   
against these trumped-up charges. What should also be at issue here is why did Iquitarod maintain a private account on which her state's business was being conducted?

The little prick did it.

demi moore  (33 posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Tue Apr-20-10 11:35 AM
Response to Original message
15. yes.. O'Keefe comes to mind
   
he should go for the defence that he just wanted to know why she was not awnsering his e-mails. and instead of calling him a hacker.. call him a journalist.
that will make those robotlicans compute the fox propagana program installed onto them.

then all he needs to do is to make them think he is one of them... like on zombie movies how the zombies never eat each other... but for gods sake don't let them smell the commie on him.. or they will have a feast

bergie321  Donating Member  (268 posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Tue Apr-20-10 12:38 PM
Response to Original message
19. She is gonna be pissed
   
When she finds out she isn't getting paid for this appearance.

Too bad the kid didn't dress up like a pimp while hacking her email.

He should get the same deal that was given to the Faux News operatives who broke into Mary Landrieu's office to bug her phone.

azuka  (2 posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Tue Apr-20-10 12:40 PM
Response to Original message
21. Hacking
   
I don't remember any more the ins and outs of this issue, what information was gained and what exactly was done with it.

Regardless how easy or hard it is to guess someone's password is irrelevant. It's not the level of skill involved in hacking, but rather that it was obvious that the owner of the email address desired to restrict access to her account. So, in my mind, he has no defense against hacking as far as that goes.

Further, what info did he collect and what did he do with it? If it was related to political issues and thoughts, should he have the right to that info and to broadcast it? I'm not sure. If it was personal stuff, like family info and so on, then it should be totally illegal and he should be prosecuted.

If it's legal to hack your way into an email address and divulge the information from one politician or public figure, then it should be legal to hack your way into ANYBODY'S email address. Whatever happened to some semblance of privacy?

If this email address was provided by the state of Alaska government, then I don't think she has any reason to expect privacy..... within the Alaskan government. Someone from Tennessee has no business hacking into a government or corporate email system. If the email address was like from Yahoo or Hotmail, then this guy really has no defense.


How about the guy who hacked into the Global Warming Research computers and downloaded tons of emails? I'm of the opinion that he shouldn't have hacked into it. On the other hand, it looks like he uncovered a massive attempt to hide information damaging to the man-made Global Warming theory. I think this is information that should be public and freely available. I think it was good that this came to light, but I don't agree with the methods used.

In my life, my son has been going through a divorce for the last year. His ex found a way to acquire his email password, and no, it wasn't anything obvious or easy. I think she hired an illegal offshore hacking site to get the password. She scrutinized the emails coming in and out of his account to look for damaging info. She forwarded emails that she thought she could do something with to her own email address and later to her attorney so he could print them out. These emails were presented in a court proceeding as support for a contention of hers that he was hiding massive amounts of income (from an Ebay enterprise between my son and myself).

She attempted to use the threat of disclosing/using this info to persuade my son to give up his attempts to have child custody and to allow her to remove his son to Texas, over 1200 miles away. My son didn't buckle, the judge dismissed the illegally obtained info, and my son and I filed felony charges against her for this hacking.

The sheriff's office decided against pursuing the felony charge because no real damage was done, and also because of 'hard feelings' between husband and wife. Mostly I think they just didn't want to get involved. We checked out the state law, and there is no doubt that she committed a felonious action.

For me, having someone hack into my personal emails is not a hypothetical issue. It happened to me. I didn't like it. I don't think someone should be able to hack into ANYBODY'S email account without severe consequences. Have you ever sent emails to others that you would prefer were not made public? I sure have. I think politicians should be able to have some privacy in their lives.

This guy knew what he was doing, knew it was risky, and did it anyway. So it goes.

Pizza. It's what for dinner.

MilesColtrane  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Tue Apr-20-10 01:14 PM
Response to Original message
24. This guy is ****ed.
   
Edited on Tue Apr-20-10 01:15 PM by MilesColtrane
50 years in ClubFed seems rather harsh for what he's accused of doing.

But, combine a star-struck jury and a judge that doesn't seem to be disposed to mitigate a long sentence, and the defendant could be going away for essentially life.

One can only hope.

[jukin]

If the young gentleman had been on team McCain and done this to Obama they would be calling for a hanging.

[Tucker]

If the young gentleman had been on team McCain and done this to Obama they would be calling for a hanging.

Not a doubt in my mind.

[Reality vs DU]

If the young gentleman had been on team McCain and done this to Obama they would be calling for a hanging.

Agreed on DUmp hypocrisy but 50 years for this is ridiculous, rapists and murderers often get less time.  A month or two is enough.   

[DefiantSix]

Agreed on DUmp hypocrisy but 50 years for this is ridiculous, rapists and murderers often get less time.  A month or two is enough.   

So give this turd the 50 years he has coming, and hang murderers and rapists like we're supposed to.

Don't be compromising with the NeoComs when we don't have to.

[Tucker]

Agreed on DUmp hypocrisy but 50 years for this is ridiculous, rapists and murderers often get less time.  A month or two is enough.   

I highly doubt that he will get the 50 years. Breaking into computer laws were enacted to protect sensitive data and to hinder corporate theft. It matters not that it was Palins email acct. The act was the same as breaking into IBM's mainframe and getting their secrets for the next new and improved laptop.

[GOBUCKS]

50 years for this is ridiculous

Not nearly as big a travesty as Scooter Libby being sentenced to 30 months, or Lord Rove being hounded for years plus 24 business hours, or the very idea of prosecuting James O'Keefe. Luckily for the sleazy little felon who violated Palin's privacy, he has a fellow socialist in charge of the executive branch. He won't do a day.

[littlelamb]

The punk will walk away with a slap on the wrist and sent on his happy way

[debk]

The punk will walk away with a slap on the wrist and sent on his happy way

Since this is going on in my town.....

While this is a very conservative area...I would not call the people of E TN "star-struck" as one of the Dummie posters did.  This is also an area, where people hold their privacy and right to privacy, dear.

I don't think the kid will get 50 years or anywhere near that, however, he did break the law, regardless of who's email account it was he hacked.....and there seems to be no question that he did hack it.

I don't know if he will end up with just getting probation or not. He is not a "bad" kid....just one who did something incredibly stupid and yes, criminal. I do think punishment is warranted, but putting him into a general prison population will probably do more harm than good.

I think he can stay in the county jail up to 11 months and 29 days....a longer sentence requires going to prison. I would think he will end up in the county jail for some period of time. For a kid who grew up as he did, that should be enough to scare the crap out of him and keep him from doing anything incredibly stupid again, and serve the rest of his sentence on probation.

[miskie]

I suspect he will get probation, his computers confiscated, and his ability to use the internet at all ended as part of his probation terms. He will also need to apologize, and probably do some sort of public service for his actions.

If he does get a prison sentence, I don't think it will be any more than 3 to 5 years, with fairly early probation as a good behavior incentive.

[Chris]

I suspect he will get probation, his computers confiscated, and his ability to use the internet at all ended as part of his probation terms.

That will make finding a job quite difficult.  Boo hoo.

[debk]

I suspect he will get probation, his computers confiscated, and his ability to use the internet at all ended as part of his probation terms. He will also need to apologize, and probably do some sort of public service for his actions.

If he does get a prison sentence, I don't think it will be any more than 3 to 5 years, with fairly early probation as a good behavior incentive.

His computers were confiscated at time of arrest, and I think his internet access was blocked too, when he was released on bail. I seem to remember reports that he was also kicked out of UT, too....but I'm not sure that happened.

[Tucker]

That will make finding a job quite difficult.  Boo hoo.

To hell with work. Doncha know computers are for social networking. He's a democrat. His dad was/is a democrat politican. Work is for little people.

[Karin]

that will make those robotlicans compute the fox propagana program installed onto them.

then all he needs to do is to make them think he is one of them... like on zombie movies how the zombies never eat each other.

I want you to read those two sentences from newbie demi moore real slowly and carefully.  Let the stupidity and vacuousness soak in.  Robotlicans?  Zombies?  Is this a mole? 

I swear to God, if I owned this site, I'd rule with an iron fist....going through and deleting all the astoundingly stupid stuff.  Who wants to be associated with these people? 

[crockspot]

To hell with work. Doncha know computers are for social networking. He's a democrat. His dad was/is a democrat politican. Work is for little people.

Exactly, he'll end up with some state hack job that pays 90k for picking his nose, and has a full pension and killer benefits.

[DefiantSix]

I swear to God, if I owned this site, I'd rule with an iron fist....going through and deleting all the astoundingly stupid stuff.  Who wants to be associated with these people? 

If you did that, the only folks allowed to post there would BE the moles. 

Everything that pours out of that stinking sewer on top of a DUmmy's neck is, by definition, astoundingly stupid to normal people.

[debk]

Exactly, he'll end up with some state hack job that pays 90k for picking his nose, and has a full pension and killer benefits.

He may end up with a state job in some state, but doubtful it will be this one....may be his home state, but it's a predominately red state. 

[dandi]

Did anyone see the nimrod Kernall on the news tonight? He was walking out of the courthouse with his lawyer and a reporter asked him, "What do you think about Bristol Palin?" and he snarked, "She's not my type."

I'd like to see him in jail for a year. Judging from the looks of him, he'd be a shoo-in for the position of Cell Block Bitch in short order. We'd see whose "type" he is then.

[kenth]

That will make finding a job quite difficult.  Boo hoo.

Since he'll probably follow his daddy in democrat politics, it will probably be a resume enhancer.