Frist Aide Resigns in Probe over Dem Files

[gulfcoastliberal]

Frist Aide Resigns in Probe Over Democrat Files
Thu February 5, 2004 03:23 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An aide to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has resigned amid a probe into how Republican staffers gained access to sensitive Democratic computer files, a spokeswoman for Frist said on Thursday.

She said Manuel Miranda resigned after an investigation into the leak of files on Democratic strategy on resisting some of President Bush's judicial nominees.

Democrats had complained of what they called "improper retrieval and release" of sensitive internal Judiciary Committee Democratic staff documents about the battle over Bush's conservative nominees to federal courts.

The rancorous partisan battle over judges has bogged down the Senate repeatedly over the past year.

Democrats fear that documents were viewed by staff over a period of months. Some were later leaked to conservative newspapers and commentators and at least one Web site.

Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, last November apologized for any staff improprieties and called the incident an "improper, unethical and simply unacceptable breach of confidential files."

Miranda was a Republican aide on the Judiciary Committee before transferring to Frist's staff and advised him on judicial affairs.

Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota said he expected the investigation, by the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms with help from the Secret Service and computer forensic specialists, would be completed by the end of the month.
© Reuters 2004.

[Homer12]

1. I think the GOP is really scared of this story getting out.

The mainstream media has not really reported it at length it, I've heard nothing on teh Major netwroks or Cable news.

If it gets out, it shows that the GOP is corrupt to the core and capable of what they tout they are not capable of, which is moral and ethical hypocrisy.

Either the Ricin (how convienant) will amplify this story or bury it.

[pinto]

3. Libby an' Hannah (Cheney's office) look shaky, also, re: Plame leak.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

11. NPR had it one day.

[xxqqqzme]

2. I think this was posted earlier...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=348191

[gulfcoastliberal]

4. Sorry

Didn't see that.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Why isn't Frist being reprimanded?

He was in charge.

[kentuck]

6. So he just transferred himself ?????

"Miranda was a Republican aide on the Judiciary Committee before transferring to Frist's staff and advised him on judicial affairs.

????????//

[WillyT]

7. Damn... Wish I Could Do That At Work, LOL !!!

:hi:

[CO Liberal]

8. Manuel Miranda: Sacrificial Lamb

Hopefully, the first of MANY resignations......

[yellowcanine]

19. Actually the second resignation.

One of Hatch's present aides resigned also. This is why I don't think Hatch is necessarily the good guy in all of this. He may just be trying to cut his losses and hope that as good Mormans, his former aides will remain loyal.

[Dover]

9. Frist's Aide Gets First Aid.

I certainly hope this bandaid solution of simply having guilty parties resign (only to be re-employed by the private sector and some corporate crooks) is not the full extent of the punishment.

[MisterC2003]

12. Resignation? Why isn't Manuel doing some jail time?

Notice that the Pubbie called Manuel's prank "unethical, improper and unacceptable" but never "illegal." But I'm betting it is. Suppose you or I broke into Bill Frist's computers and leaked their contents to liberal publications and websites. Think banning us from the Democratic Underground would be the limit of it?

Also, as you point out, I'm sure some rich Pubbie sugar daddy is ready and waiting to accept Manuel into a juicy, well-paying job while his image is refurbished so he can help Jeb win the Presidency in 2008.

[DBoon]

15. Computer Crime Act of 1986

Amended many times over the years makes unauthorized access to a Federal interest computer a crime, and if the information is worth more than $5,000, a felony.

Bet some 19 year old hecker doing this would be in jail right now.

[amber dog democrat]

10. will tossing a fall-guy to the wolves

make this issue go away?

I bet there is more to this.

[leesa]

13. Those GOP aides and assistants sure are independent!

Throw Frist out on his ass!

[Zhade]

14. NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

I want Frist's head on a platter. A. Silver. Fucking. Platter.

[rustydog]

16. Could this be why Frist had the Ricin attack?

another diversion brought to you by the GOP.

[Algorem]

18. Frist:"We had to incrimidate,eh,incinerate some files and computers and

things so they coulnd't indict,abba,infect us."

[yellowcanine]

17. Orrin Hatch supposedly has his knickers in a knot over this....

(I apologize for that horrible mental picture)

Orrin was crying giant crocodile tears over the fact that Republican Senate aides were spying on Democrats. Of course he didn't say whether he knew anything about the spying nor did he seem very curious at the time as to how the memos were being leaked.

[Don_G]

20. I Wonder What Other Files And Systems Have Been Comprimised?

Or even if the DLC has bothered to look into it.

Maybe that's why the Rethugs don't ask the opposition anything; they already know what we're thinking and what "they" get away with.