In Germany people are entitled to compensation for such negligence and leaks of their private information.
She should sue the Postal Service, the PACs, both of them, and the National Archives and Records Administration. One DC attorney who specializes in such cases has already indicated an interest and seems to think such a suit would be successful.
2
To: New York Times. Please reprint a copy of the constitution on September 17, the anniversary of the adoption of the constitution. We really need it now more than ever. Thank you.
3
Every time I think that the Republicans have reached the bottom in corruption, sleaze, and their need to resort to disgusting tricks to win elections because 80% of Americans reject their agenda, I am proven wrong. Obliterate this nascent fascism - VOTE.
2
Return the documents? Really? When in today's world are actual paper documents sent anywhere?That's like asking someone to return an email, or tweet.
The Republican Party AND the Freedom Party are scared, as they should be. I just left the district she is running for. It was Eric Cantor’s safe seat until he squandered it. Then Dave Brat, a Tea Party candidate won his seat. Well that district which is ridiculously gerrymandered is becoming more heavily populated by Democrats AND women. Spanberger is a great candidate and I am so sorry I can mot be a vote for her.
4
"...we will request the return of the information which we mistakenly disclosed.”
Well, there ya go. Problem solved.
2
And just why would the Postal Service have on file a copy of a former CIA agent's security application. The original leak has to be somewhere higher.
1
Read the article. She was applying to work at the Post Office.
1
While it is another example of the culture of "dirty tricks" in politics, Ms. Spanberger should take heart because she has the right to campaign now on the correct assertion that she has been certified by the US government as “... reliable, trustworthy, of good character and loyal to the United States.”
3
I guess you can send the usual "thoughts and prayers" along with "deep regrets" for this one. Is there no end to the sleaziness in this administration?
And to think, we are all worried about Facebook...
1
Republicans can add this to their list of crimes to be subpoenaed and investigated. It surely would be if it was a Pelosi super pac that did this.
3
In a statement to BuzzFeed News, Joe Pounder, the chief executive of America Rising, said, “America Rising never published her personal information and has no interest in it, so it is glad to return the documents to the Post office for their redaction.”
So why did you not immediately return the documents?
And we all know that there are no copy machines at "American Rising."
Sorry to be so cynical so early in the AM but we all should know by know that Republicans will stop at nothing to "win."
Nothing.
1
Release of the SF-86 is against the law. Those who are responsible should be prosecuted according to the law. Their employment should also be terminated.
4
FOYA requests should be handled through the legal team. This is incredible incompetence. Any Human Resource person would most definitely know that it is wrong to provide this information directly. There's more here.
4
George Bush expanded the Federal government to employ more Republican Christian-in-name-only fundamentalists. Trump is doing the same by encouraging any dissenters to leave. Hence, all apposition can be targeted. Chilling
This reeks worse than the fish rotting on Florida's beaches.
The one fact that I find incredible is that Spanberger herself made a request for her own files nine months ago and has not yet received her own records. Yet, when opposition researchers file a FOIA request, three weeks later they get an unredacted file.
This another example of the Republican's practice that it is easier to steal an election than to win one.
8
As a veteran with a security clearance, I filled out an SF86 as well. I also took an oath to uphold the constitution as did Paul Ryan and everyone else in Congress. I find it outrageous that a Paul Ryan super PAC requested, obtained and released an unredacted form on a democratic opponent. Winning at any costs is unamerican. How can anyone align themselves with the Republican today?
51
Just another example of why the government cannot be trusted with our private information.
It's amazing that just a couple of days ago, well informed writers to a similar NYT forum were demanding that innocent people be forced to turn over their DNA to the police (AKA government).
Our most private data, despite the best rules, regulations and laws, can never be safe in the hands of a government that leaks information like a sieve.
"congressional leadership" - what an oxymoron.
2
When it comes to Trump's government, I don't believe in coincidences and "unfortunate errors" that just so happen to benefit a Republican at the expense of a Democratic opponent.
287
@Pat - and as a former CIA field officer, Spanberger is smart not to believe in coincidences.
4
Like someone said below: "A government agency released this file- dishonestly. The post office delivered it."
This lie needs to be pursued right back to where it originated. This is not the fault of anyone at the post office. Although this lie lays the groundwork for an assault on the organization and structure of the post office. It's just blatant dishonesty and diversionary tactics designed to preoccupy people who bother to look.
42
@matty The PO had a personnel file on her because she worked in its enforcement wing. So, no, it did not simply 'deliver' the file from another agency.
2
@matty
The Post Office released it. The request was made TO the PO, and they supplied the form she filled out FOR the post office. I am sure they then delivered it. AFTER they released it.
Here's what information appears in a completed SF86. Tell me how much of YOUR information you'd like to see released to the news media or the general public. And when you complete and sign a Form SF86, there is only one "routine use" or release of that information to the news media or general public that is permitted under the Privacy Act: when the disclosure of factual information would be in the public interest AND would not constitute an "unwarranted invasion of personal privacy."
Full name, SSN, other names used, citizenship, citizenship information, where you have lived, where you went to school, employment activities, selective service record, military history, marital status, relatives, foreign contacts, foreign activities, mental and emotional health, police record, use of illegal drugs and drug activity, use of alcohol, investigations and clearance record, financial record, use of information technology systems, involvement in non-criminal court actions, and association record.
23
So sorry. Please put the toothpaste back in the tube. And don’t tell anyone what it tastes like.
4
If there's an ex-post office employee who managed to pull this off just imagine the well-paid and cushy job they'll soon receive.
2
Maybe the CIA did it and they have instructed the Post Office to take the blame.
We're so sorry. Please return it, and for goodness sake don't look at it or make a copy.
1
The win at all costs strategy of the GOP and its pacs has now reached into private personnel files. The Post Office cannot just claim this was a "mistake". Someone released the information, and the name of the person needs to be known. We also need to know if this person was fired by the Post Office.
11
@Lily Quinones
Political operatives all act like that. It doesn't matter what party they belong to.
She should sue those who released it and Paul Ryan' PAC who used it. Note they are dragging their feet retrieving it. Again we see how low the GOP will go. The party of family values and god cheats and lies like their vie little president.
9
This explanation doesn't hold water. An SF86 is not subject to FOIA regulations. It's in a different category. For anyone, including Ms Spanberger, to legally obtain a copy of that form she has to specify any information subject to the Privacy Act. If she were make a FOIA request for her personnel file without mentioning the Privacy Act in her letter she would not receive any documents covered by the Privacy Act. It's a separate category and has to be specifically requested. I know this because I too was an employee of an intelligence agency and I requested a copy of my records, including my SF86. If you don't specifically request Privacy Act documents you don't get them. A FOIA request is not sufficient.
Then there is the explanation of the PACs. How many times have they made such records requests on people and received a complete, unredacted SF86 from "a standard FOIA request"? In their own Twitter post to Spanberger they claim to be experts in FOIA disclosures. They must have thought when they saw her social security number that one of their political operatives had done a proper job and given them the real goods.
Don't think the Postal Service is clean of any political corruption. They have had significant problems in the past.
Joe Pounder seemed to know all about her employment history in other Twitter posts and now he claims he doesn't even know what's in the SF86 and has no interest in it?
Everybody is claiming to be dumb and incompetent.
8
These disclosures would be bad enough if they only affected Ms Spanberger personally.
This appears to be so despite dismissal of the suit by Valerie Plame and Joseph Wilson for governmental disclosure of her personal information, because the dismissal was not based on a review of the basic substantive issue - her right to privacy - but rather on procedural and jurisdictional issues.
That the disclosure of Ms Spangerger's private information occurred in connection with her candidacy for Congress also implicates "badness" of a greater order of magnitude.
1
This reeks to high heaven of Republican dirty tricks, and there's no way this could have been released so rapidly without the approval and probably active intervention by the White House. Trump has been a dirty trickster all his life, from pretending (badly) to be his "new PR man" to revealing to women he wanted to be that their husbands were cheaters (Michael Wolff's book).
It just doesn't parse that Trump's hand isn't in this. No way.
4
This disclosure is sickening and absolutely beyond the breech of everything normal. We need to hold vile Speaker Paul Ryan responsible for this disclosure NOW because he's proven not just this once that he is a threat to the stability of this Nation. This disclosure of classified information on democrats was obtained by Paul's Pac. Despite lies of denial they're using it. Don't forget treasonous Paul is on tape telling Republicans to remain mum about Russians paying Trump. They all laughed. To learn about this the week of the last great Republican John McCain's, fantastically patriotic memorials is heart breaking.
5
The Post Office??!!??
Giving the GOP a pass on this one.
3
How exactly does the Post Office think documents which were undoubtedly delivered electronically can be 'returned' - or, what they think they would be achieving - 'undelivered'? How asinine.
2
Wow, what a shame, so this is how low we are going. We have lost human decency. This is insane!
1
Well, OK, this may explain why we keep getting mail at our house for some guy who used to live here -- 7 years ago.
We keep sending the mail back, writing that he no longer lives here.
And ......... we keep getting his mail.
My sympathies to Abigail Spanberger. I already wanted her to beat Dave Brat, and after reading this article about the sleazy Republicans and Paul Ryan, I really, really want her to win.
4
@hoconnor My father died five years ago and we are still getting his mail. I've returned stuff to the senders, notified the Post Office, nothing. I wouldn't care, since I usually just toss such stuff, but he subscribed to "American Hunter." Not exactly my cup of tea.
Is the postal service being forced to cover for the White House?
Paul Ryan's PAC is guilty for requesting someone's personnel file knowing that would be illegal.
3
@Henry Wilburn Carroll
Pretty sure "requesting" something isn't illegal. Getting something you requested may well be, though.
I’m reluctant to attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity or ignorance but releases require reviews and approval. I guess we’ll have to wait for what Paul Harvey called, “the rest of the story".
Oh, please...what a bunch of hooey. This was planned and orchestrated by the subversive forces that be. When in recent memory has a similar scenario taken place? This is yet another low by a network of deviants which will do anything for Republicans to stay in power. Endless corruption bordering on betrayal of the principles of a democracy.
7
Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what the Post Office can do to you.
2
How is such an "error" possible.
Where was proper management?
Please do not suggest it was a lowly clerk who was at fault.
Tell us which senior manager is to be fired.
1
OMG!! Rachel Maddox was talking about this last night. She correctly said that a PAC affiliated with Paul Ryan, instantly got the unredacted file with all the personal info. NO ONE can get that. You can request it under a Freedom of Information Act, but then you get something that is almost totally redacted as it's highly confidential. IF the Republicans are doing this, we really are becoming a police state!! This must be stopped. They are going after their enemies, which is anyone who doesn't agree with them. Is there anything else horrible that can happen to our freedoms!!!
7
It's magical what a little cash here, a little favor there can get you. Laws? What laws? The president says we don't need no stinkin' laws.
I hope that all the employees who are so helpful to the president enjoy their reward of "No raise for you!"
4
What a disgrace. And it was a postal error? More baloney served up to to the American public courtesy of the GOP.
1
“Asked for it back”. That’s a good one!! Sorry, the toothpaste is out of the tube.
2
This pathetic excuse--it would merit the tearful laughter emoji. And, sorry, I don't think that "Ooops" is a sufficient response to something like this. An investigation is warranted. Just imagine the reaction had "human error" resulted in a similar disclosure affecting one of the Ruling Class.
1
I doubt this is human error. I have made hundreds of FOIA and or Public Information Request under State law. In today's day and age, the production is automated.
That is, the PDF production software redacts various fields that have been flagged as fitting under a confidential exception to disclosure.
Additionally, the production is meticulously reviewed after automated scrubbing.
I don't buy this excuse.
7
Weaponizing personal information for political shenanigans is one of the most dangerous aspects to the Trump presidency. It a huge threat to our democracy.
Trump is a threat to our democracy. I want him gone. Now.
3
Republican dirty tricks. They think this is ok with their base, and maybe it is, but this could be done to any of us if the republicans remain in power. Just cross them and see what happens. I hope Ms. Spanberger and her lawyer are prepared to FOIA the bunch of them, including phone records from the Trump administration regarding the release.
4
Yet another example of corruption by the current administration.
Fortunately, we start clearing out the trash in November.
This is a very typical GOP tactic
They did it to Gore and Kerry, attacking their service in the military while running Bush 2
Trump stomps around like he actually served in the military rather than weaseling out with “bone spurs”
The GOP voter likes a testosterone filled show, but with no muscle behind it.
The 90% of GOP voters who adore Trump side with a man who maligned a true (GOP) hero, John McCain.
Just a bunch of phony politicians who talk above bravery they do not possess
Trump isn’t brave enough to even tell the truth.
3
Is it just me that thinks this statement from the Postal Service sounds like a lot of "hot air", signifying nothing?? Requesting return....really! Next they will say they'll make every effort to delete it from the internet.
“We take full responsibility for this unfortunate error, and we have taken immediate steps to ensure this will not happen again,” David Partenheimer, a Postal Service spokesman, said in a statement. He added, “The privacy and security of personal information is of utmost importance to the Postal Service. The Postal Service offers our sincere apology to Ms. Spanberger, and we will request the return of the information which we mistakenly disclosed.”
America Rising, huh? Same people who pursued Jane Mayer as she exposed the Dark Money crowd. They also persecuted and harassed Bill McKibben. Dirty tricks a specialty, as long as they serve the far right.
If you're looking for a Deep State, try the Kochtopus, Mercers, Infowars, Breitbart, Trumpistan and his cabinet of acolytes, etc. etc. America Rising should not be scapegoating the Post Office for falling for their sleazy tactics.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/30/james-okeefe-accidentally-...
"America Rising—the unofficial oppo-research affiliate of the Republican Party .... America Rising serves as a for-profit vender to conservative clients, who pay it to conduct customized negative research."
"the dark-money arm of Rhoades’s group, America Rising Squared, announced the creation of a negative campaign to target leading environmentalists as well as prominent donors to environmental causes and candidates."
"Definers Public Affairs .... another recent creation of America Rising Squared, as is an app called Grill, which enables users to track the location of ideological enemies, including Hillary Clinton, and lists hostile questions to ask at public events"
"O'Keefe [remember him, another liar for hire] on Breitbart News confessed that he had “been forced to abandon an ambitious undercover investigation into billionaire left-wing financier George Soros.” ... he “forgot to hang up” the phone, but declined to be more specific about the operation"
10
@Susan Anderson Apparently this system is no longer making links into links, while it continues to abbreviate them. To find the reference, try searching for this:
"Sting of Myself"
"Amateurish spies like James O’Keefe III attempt to sway the 2016 campaign"
By Jane Mayer
OR, you can replace the "..." in the link above with the clipped ending repeated here:
stings-himself
1
Regardless whether the Postal Service released the record by mistake or as a malicious act by one person, the real offense lies with Paul Ryan's PAC. This is the Trump Tower meeting redux: a Republican political entity is offered dirt on an opposing candidate and every sense of morals, of proper conduct, goes by the wayside. Ryan's PAC knew, or should have known, it was wrong to have an *unredacted* personnel file. Rather than call the police, they use it because, hey, they didn't do anything improper to get it. This isn't about whether they acted legally, it is about whether they displayed moral bankruptcy.
The fact they tried to use information from it to paint Ms Spanberger as tainted, despite the fact that the CIA, possessing that same information, employed her for eight years, suggests they have no more respect for their voters' intelligence than they have for integrity. They apparently believe duping voters is both easy and an appropriate means of political discourse.
59
The only FOIA request I ever made was to the Drug Enforcement Agency. After waiting 5 years, I had to sue the agency to get the documents. But, then, I am just a private citizen.. If I had been a right-wing PAC, the service might have been a tad better.
15
I agree with many others that this unauthorized release of the file of a former C.I.A. operative cannot be considered a random unfortunate coincidence. We must now assume that America Rising is just another Republican organization that no longer serves it stated purpose of helping to elect Republicans, but has instead fallen under the spell of the Kremlin. Nor should we be shocked to learn that foreign operatives are working for the Postal Service. Pay close attention, fellow citizens, to the reaction from Congress. Those who remain silent are most suspect.
3
It is difficult to believe this was an accident. As a once federal employee, and not in HR, we stop sharing even birthdays of co-workers as this was considered too personal. Much less an entire application with this sensitive information. Apology not accepted.
11
Add this latest outrage to the list of sleazy, if not illegal, activities under Republican governance.
Such rapid response to a FOIA request had to be an inside job. Paul Ryan's super PAC gets concierge treatment to retrieve un-redacted info benefitting a Republican House member? Just a coincidence? Not very likely.
The PAC did add a Trumpian flare, threatening to disseminate her personal info widely and enjoining the candidate from disparaging their slimy tactics.
I guess they had little hope of winning Bratt's race on his merits.
House Dems, if not the Senate too, will need to have months and months of investigations in the next Congress to get to the bottom of the Trump-Ryan-McConnell swamp. I'll bet they could use more campaign contributions, too.
3
Since the information could not be legally released - maybe the super PAC can be charged with receiving stolen goods if they don't return it and stop using it?
5
In light of how politicized Mr. Trump and the GOP have made the government, I do not believe one word from the USPS that this was a mistake on their part. I believe the Mr. Trump and his party will stop at nothing to get all confidential information on their opponents and broadcast only those negative items to the world.
3
The time frame on this FOIA response indicates there is more to investigate because that kind of response time doesn't exist without an expedite request. If there was that type of request who made it? Was it pulled from a regular FOIA release processor? The form probably contains numerous items that may or may not be appropriately released under FOIA and the Privacy Act but we don't need to argue about any disclosure beyond her social security number. That is an obvious redaction obligation of a FOIA processor, first day on the job blacking out information this would be known and emphasized. Since this FOIA appears to have been taken out of order time wise we should still be entitled to know if the failure was intentional.
Publicly it is easy to blame it on unintentional training error but if looking at it from the inside that is an incredibly unlikely circumstance since it received special expedited attention. Makes a great excuse though to blame it on unintentional training error.
6
Is this really happening? Republicans political organization can legally and expeditiously obtained personnel files, may Democrats have the same level of access?
Paul Ryan's PAC released classified information to the press in an attempt to win a congressional seat. Will Devin Nunes investigate this crime? Or, is this just part of their on-going criminal conspiracy to defraud the American people?
6
Never expect republicans to act responsibly. It never happens. They are fully aware that the information should not have been released. Who released it? Was she playing politics?
3
“ 'As is its right, CLF therefore will continue to disseminate this information through all available means so that voters can reach an informed conclusion regarding their choice at the polls on November 6, 2018,' wrote Megan Newton, a lawyer for the super PAC."
Very admirable. Since CLF is so committed to creating an informed electorate, they will no doubt release all comparable information on the Republican candidate as well "so that voters can reach an informed conclusion regarding their choice at the polls..." Otherwise they are fostering the exact opposite: a biased and poorly informed electorate.
The Postal Service employee who released it should be fired for cause.
Spanberger should also sue the US Postal Service.
5
@Jay David
The postal service is just taking the fall for Paul Ryan.
1
@Jay David
I wouldn't be surprised if that employee, once fired, will get a cushy job with a nice salary bump from a corporation run by one of the Republican Party faithful.
Just another investigation opportunity for the Justice Department once the swamp it has become under this corrupt administration gets drained.
Will The New York Times be interviewed about this issue? Seems as if it would be good for voters across the country to know what he knew and when he knew it. And, would he want his Social Security Number being made public?
Will Ms. Spanberger be having any public debates with her opponent, the Republican incumbent, prior to the November election. If so, I hope that the NYT will cover the debate.
For those that think that everyone should overlook this latest travesty, how would they feel if their Social Security number, medical history etc was released to a PAC to publicize as they see fit. Good luck getting your information back USPS. Prepare to pay.
4
The only way republicans win is by cheating. No one should ever be able to obtain files like these on an opponent. Her identity could be stolen all day forever with that information and does anyone believe they are being careful with her records? Whether its gerrymandering, super pacs (citizens united), voter suppression, poll place closing, restricting the numer of days you can vote and maybe collaborating with foreign powers. The postal service owes her big time! and those super pacs ought to be held accountable in some way.
5
Why does Mr. Tackett wait until the 14th paragraph to explain that the Postal Service released Ms. Spanberger's SF-86 form because she was employed by the Postal Service, prior to working at the CIA, and therefore would have filled out personnel forms as part of her job at the Postal Service. It is very confusing and seems to imply that her CIA personnel information was released.
Also, it is insane that a HR employee released unredacted personal information to whoever filed a FOI request. That is a fundamental breach of responsibility.
3
If she was Republican, then we would be hearing how the government had it in for Republicans, the deep state is after them, how the system is rigged.
3
Not surprised Paul Ryan and his PAC are involved and equally not surprised he has said nothing.
1
Super Pack, hunting it's enemies list for the likes of people Like Paul Ryan who is just one more nail in the coffin of Freedom for the citizens of the USA he wants you all to go hungry if you don't have a job, Take the food out of the poor people's mouths to feed the richer than everyone classes. Rich people aren't mean, but Paul Ryan is mean, he hides it with coyness when Donnie the Boy King wants to take the kids and deport the parents, and take the health care out of the hands of Citizens and give tax breaks to corporations that have sheltered their profits for so long they are the new overlords in the keeps of the New Kingdom of the America's .. We are sliding back into the 225 year ago fight for freedom from a Crown, they want it back, like what they saw at the Royal weddings and want a slice of it.
The french revolution was all about getting out from under the thumb of the royal classes, we shouldn't be going right back toward it. FOIA is one thing but to be so blatant at breaking the rules that protect our Security clearances just because someone wants to run for public servant is getting in the thin Ice region like maybe we are a 3rd world dictatorship with Donnie and the GOP pushing so hard to get their enemies lists up to date.
Sad that it has come this far to slide this far backwards
1
Does anyone else find it troublesome that "ex" CIA officers are now crowding into our "elected" (sic) government apparatus?
I seem to recall that the CIA was caught, several decades ago, doing things like creating and spreading fake news, planning and executing (sic!) assassination attempts (over 600 failed attempts against the life of Fidel Castro alone!), coups-d'etat, and generally anti-democratic things like overthrowing actually elected governments (e.g. Salvador Allende's government in Santiago Chile).
If we're going to have a "wall of separation" between Church and State, doesn't it make sense to have an equally high-wall separating the clandestine "intelligence", assassination bureaus and dirty tricks agencies from "meddling in our Democracy" as well?
Amazing the depths the modern Republican Party will sink to to "win" every battle it encounters. They have no shame, and apparently only one goal: to utterly destroy any of their fellow Americans whom they deem to be on "the other side" of their new brand of scorched-earth warfare. This apparently includes candidates for any and all level of political office, as well as fallen patriots such as John McCain.
Ms. Spanberger seems like a very composed and measured professional, and may be a more formidable opponent than these PAC tricksters imagined. Hopefully she will sue the smirks of their faces and the incivility and lawlessness out of their systems.
For shame, GOP-ers.
For shame.
1
Let’s hope Virginia voters respond by electing her - so that she can join the new Democratic controlled House in investigating this abuse and all the other GOP misdeeds these last 18 months.
7
Ms. Newton’s letter went on to say that the SF-86 form “states on its face that it can be release to the media and public,” . . . The SF86 is 127 pages in length and on its first page where its purpose is outlined it states, "All study results released to the general public will delete personal identifiers such as name, social security number, and date and place of birth."
It would be immediately evident to anyone handed Ms. Spanberger's unredacted SF-86 that they were in receipt of an improperly released document.
7
Suppose this could happen with the tax returns?
3
Of course the first thing we need to do is "Shoot the messenger". This is clearly a case of "We know who the messenger was!" Postal Heads will roll! OK, probably not.
Virginians already know Dave Brat for what he is. No help from the CLF will change that. Some people liked him and it wasn't enough to get him elected Governor.
Paul Ryan, again grossly negligent in his duties. Republicans again - underhanded and circumventing the law.
If I receive a fax or email with sensitive info not meant for me, I and most LAW ABIDING people would return it - not disseminate it. On what planet does this Superpac think they are above privacy laws? Oh right, rules are only meant to be followed by everyone who is not a Republican.
Interesting how the GOP always needs to resort to underhanded tactics to 'win'. Gerrymandering, voter suppression, refusal to perform Constitutional duties and now this.
1
The hypocrisy of the CLF and its benefactor, America Rising, is business as usual for the Republican Party. They have committed a crime by disseminating Ms. Spanberg's SSN, and (you can take this to the bank) no one in either organization will be punished.
1
They're blaming HR?? These days, HR can't tell you if somebody sneezed. All they can say is whether someone works there, used to work there, and maybe whether or not they are re-hirable. So, blaming this egregious release on HR is either bogus, or there's somebody in that HR department who violated their conditions of employment.
1
Sounds to me like the game is fixed
3
Not credible. Three weeks to process a FOIA? This was a politically motivated act by an individual.
4
Of course, the GOP will surely do the right thing, the honorable thing, the decent thing, and immediately return the...
Sorry. Forgot what org I was talking abut for a second.
3
The Postmaster General should be addressing this directly, NOT a "spokesperson."
So are American citizens to understand that Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the House, the 3rd official in line to the Presidency, lacks the intelligence, integrity or both in that he would deliberately release an UNREDACTED SF-86 to the media??
41
This stinks to high heaven. Shame on Paul Ryan and his PAC. Surely he knows the same can be done to him and it won't look pretty.
32
I confess that I don't know the process by which the Postal Service has possession of CIA files. I look forward to enlightenment by fellow commentators.
41
@Frank Casa She filled out her original SF-86 for her first job in government, as a law enforcement position within the USPS. She has certainly had to file additional SF-86's when she went to work for CIA, and during her CIA employment. That original SF-86 was filed with her USPS record, and is what was released, which is a misdemeanor crime, and Ms. Spanberger has two years to sue the government over the improper release.
1
@Frank CasaIt It was her SF-86 when she applied to be a postal inspector prior to joining the CIA
But the same FOIA rules apply to the USPS and this was either a blatant screwup for which someone should be fired or an intentional violation for which someone should be prosecuted
1
@Frank Casa It was her SF86 security clearance application for a position on the law enforcement side the Postal Service.
Released in error? These records were not released "in error." They were released by an individual. The rapidity with which the records were released is indicative of an individual employee who was politically motivated. Corporations may be people, and the Postal Service may be in error, but the records were released purposefully.
204
The article indicates that the mistake occurred because it was handled by HR; of all the departments in an organization, one would think that HR would be more protective of personnel records, not less. This incident sheds even more doubt about the competency of people working for the USPS.
Republicans are crooks and cheats — pretty much all of them.
124
Thank you CLF for your deep commitment to providing valuable information so that voters can make an informed decision.
I now consider myself fully informed that the Congressional Leadership Fund is a terrorist group that is knowingly and illegally disseminating classified information in pursuit of political gains.
I’m off to contribute to Ms. Spanberger’s campaign now...
428
It goes without saying that were the parties in this situation reversed, it would be taken as more evidence of "deep state" shenanigans and the tweetstorms about the anti-Trump postal service would commence, resulting in the likely firing of numerous USPS career employees.
The question is, is it better or worse that Democrats will not attempt to spin this into similar conspiracy theories? It seems that Democrats regularly take the "high road" with little real-world benefit, while Republicans insist that everyone is just as dirty as they are. Oh, the downsides of basing opinions and policies on evidence rather than feelings.
91
While I agree in general, in this case the nefarious explanation about how CLF got the information seems to have been wrong - ie release of info in error by postal service rather than deliberate dirty tricks... but we shall see. They should apologize and stop distributing it though.
@PAF: The employee(s) in the Postal Service who released this information may have been poorly trained, or he/she may have been sympathetic to Republicans and willing to violate confidentiality in order to discredit Democratic candidates. We won't know that until there's a thorough investigation.
This is not simply paranoia.
An SF-86 is a sensitive personnel document, clearly marked as such, and there are clear policies about releasing this 136 page document in response to FOIA requests. Besides sensitive identifying information like SSN, birthplace, date, passport info, etc., it includes similar information about spouses, and a subset of that information for all immediate relatives and friends. It includes a detailed history of military service, travel, finances, employment, criminal record, and much more, even a detailed eight page history of any psychological or emotional difficulties, counseling, etc.
Release of this document may suggest that some Republican supporters in government are willing to violate the law to achieve political objectives. Only fifteen years ago, an active CIA operative, Valerie Plame, was outed by Republican government employees working for VP Cheney. Interestingly, President Trump just pardoned one of those people, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who participated in that illegal release of sensitive government information and the subsequent cover-up. Might that fact have encouraged the employee who released this document?
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The real lead that needs to be followed here is the rapidity of the FOIA request fulfillment. Is there a systematic bias or directive to provide opposition research to Republican allied PACs and political groups? Three weeks on a FOIA request is unheard of.
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Agree. Would be interested to see the NYT FOIA request the docs and notes related to the FOIA request and response discussed in this article; and please let us know about it.
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Unfortunately, at this point her information has been copied, stored, distributed, and weaponized. And where is Ryan's or any GOP response. Truly shows what gutless hypocrites they are.
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What does the Postal Service have to do with it?
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She had also applied for a job with the USPS and had to file an SF86 for that job as well. That was the form that was “accidentally” (big wink) released.
@LI'er read the article they are the ones that released the information.
@LI'er They improperly released the SF-86 form with confidential information. Not good.
CORRECTION: She was not a "substitute" teacher. She worked full-time at ISA for two years while being provisionally hired by the CIA. That is to say, she was spying on the students and faculty at the school.
Given that most students and faculty were American citizens, this raises all sorts of legal questions. Since when is the CIA allowed to run domestic operations? How many American citizens were surveilled and reported upon by Ms. Spanberger? Was this legal?
Her timeline regarding the postal service and ISA makes no sense, either, as it has her working both jobs simultaneously. Was the postal inspector position legal cover to allow domestic spying activities?
Ms. Spanberger had something to hide, or she wouldn't have sanitized her CV in the first place. And the potential bombshell isn't Islamic sympathies, as she had none while at ISA: it's potentially unconstitutional domestic surveillance on hundreds of American citizens by the CIA.
She needs to start answering questions. Honestly.
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@Helvetico
Even if all you write is correct, how does that justify the release of the files by the Postal Services, who admitted they did it in a wrongful manner?
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@Helvetico Now how do you know she was "spying?" I'd love to see some sources cited. It seems unlikely to me. Also, in many schools, there's not a huge difference between a sub and a contracted teacher - my district pays licensed teachers the contract rate, or close to it, for long-term assignments. How do you know in what capacity she worked? If you saw on her resume that she worked there two years and did not mention "sub," that tells you nothing - it's fine she didn't mention it, but if she didn't mention it, it doesn't mean she was not a sub.
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@Helvetico
Odd that the unwarranted and unjustified release of her CIA record, has now caused some to bring up issues of illegal domestic spying on US citizens.
How you can go from querying the Postal Service to now smearing her CIA service, is a huge leap that defies decency, honesty and the facts.
While concerned about issues, why not ask Trump regarding questions about his tax returns and why they are supposedly a state secret, while a CIA agent has her work exposed, with no regard to its sensitivity or importance?
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So, now Super PACs think they have the right to publish people’s social security numbers?
Both postal service and the PAC are going to get sued by this candidate, and I don’t blame her for doing it. It’s outrageous!
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In exposing Ms. Spanberger's ill-gotten personal information the so-called Congressional Leadership Fund again demonstrates Paul Ryan and his ilk putting tribalism before country or even common decency. Paul Ryan owes us his his counterpart health history, social security number etc. Eh, Paul?
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@Susan It demonstrates that there is no other Republican party, just the Trump Republican party. Every GOP voter owns it now, all of it. The racism, the misogyny, the xenophobia, the family separations, the deportation of American citizens, all of it.
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The president is just like his buddy Mr. Pecker at AMI. He enjoys using information against other people. There is zero doubt in my mind after Lindsey Graham's appearance on the Today show that trump has something on the Senator. He can't seem to carry enough water for the president. As for this act I don't believe for one second that this was a clerical problem with the Postal Service! What really kills me is there is nothing anybody could dig up right now on anybody that would measure up with the criminality and behavior of our current president. Do the GOP understand how absolutely silly they sound when they accuse people of sins so horrible as believing they have Native American heritage while they support a president who colluded with the Russians and then help him to obstruct justice? One is a criminal enterprise and the other isn't even close. They should just go all in and rename their party the HFA - Hypocrisy for All.
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Of course the postal employee that gave out a piece of personal information without first contacting Spanberger or by court order has been fired? NOT
That person or persons needs to be fired ASAP.
What's in your personnel file at work is suppose to stay at work and not be open to the public.
On second thought put this person to work at the IRS where they can get their hands on Trump's tax returns, that will work out much better.
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That person needs to be investigated. The rapidity of the release of this information is unprecedented.
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@BTO That person should be arrested!
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Can we go one day - ONE DAY - without reading about something the GOP does that they wouldn't tolerate for a nanosecond in a Democrat? I am at a loss for words at this point. Wealthy Republicans who held (and continue to hold) their nose while voting, is it worth it? Your stock portfolio might not be worth much in a country without democracy.
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For goodness sakes! The woman speaks Spanish, French, German and some Italian.
If I had her talents, after 9/11, while waiting for a CIA position to open up, I would work at a Saudi school, too, learn about the language and culture, including how welcoming and patriotic are the VAST majority of Muslim- Americans. No doubt this allowed her to serve more effectively in her anti-terrorist work, some of which was clandestine and put her life at risk in service to our country.
Could the Leadership Foundation be more ridiculous? They've drawn attention to her credentials, background and bravery AND made fools of themselves. The voters will recognize this smear campaign of a heroic American and it will work in her favor.
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@kfm-Good points. I recall that when Bush Jr. launched an undeclared war/invasion on Iraq, the U.S. only had 11 Arabic-speaking translators on the payroll. Surely that's a stupid, ill-shorted way to approach "liberating another country" yes? Over 2 million refugees, a destroyed country, a 100,000+ dead, civilians maimed, people tortured--would say so.
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Nixon's White House had its plumbers. So now it's the . . . mailman?
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That was one mighty fast response to a FOIA request.
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Interestingly, Spanberger is running against Tea Partier Dave Brat in VA, who is probably the most anti-federal-employee Senator there is. If he had the chance, he would wipe out the U.S. Civil Service entirely. He and his local supporters of all people clearly knows the breadth of personal details there are in an SF-86. So, this doesn't seem like a coincidence.
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Good luck in getting it back, USPS.
Make that Abigail Spanberger, a former C.I.A. operative and a FORMER Democratic candidate for congress.
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@Stan Carlisle Don't be so smug. GOP and Trump just denied raises to federal empolyee's. There are more down in Henrico then you realize. The GOP sent the signal today that democrats can take over Virginia, and we will. Trump is doing his best to make northern virginia hate the GOP, and GOP operatives wrote the book on hate as a motivator in getting the vote out in a base election.
The republican party and it's allies no longer exist. It was devolved into the anti-American party of traitors and thugs. They have sunk into the depths of hell with their lies, their obstructions, their racism, their misogyny, their lack of morals and ethics, and their unrelenting theme of destroying humanity as they worship on the altar of avaricious wealthy and malicious corporations. Vote these demons out of office in November. Take back our country from these thieves and con men and women.
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@E-Llo -- all great ideas!
Now, if only WE were there,
when they count the Votes...
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Once again, the Trumpists put the importance of their political power over a patriot's actual service to their country. Follow the bonespur!
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When Al Gore was running against George W. Bush for president, someone sent his campaign the "war plan" from the Bush campaign. Gore immediately notified, and sent it to, the FBI. He did the right thing.
When people sent classified material to this GOP PAC, or when the Russians provided stolen information to the trump campaign, they did not notify the FBI. They happily used the material.
What trashy people and organizations they are!
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Surely, those who requested the file knew that what they received was the result of an error. Instead of being honest about it, they exploited it, whether it was legal or not. They should ask the Post Office for Donald Trump's tax returns next time.
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@Harpo
Surely, people who received a document that they had requested, where the person completing it had indicated she was aware it could be released to the public, would think it was OK that the federal bureaucracy had complied with its request.
They should not have released her social security number to the Russians.
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@ebmem Not meaning to pick on you with all of these replies to your messages ...
Are you saying that the person who completed the SF86 (Ms. Spanberger) was aware it could be release to the public? Because that is untrue. One of the eleven "routine uses" of SF86 data is release "to the news media or the general public, factual information the disclosure of which would be in the public interest and which WOULD NOT CONSTITUTE AN UNWARRANTED INVASION OF PERSONAL PRIVACY (my emphasis). In other words, "public interest" does not set aside her rights to legal protection against disclosure of her PII provided under the Privacy Act. Knowledge of her SSN, home address, place of birth and passport number (among other data) is simply not in the public interest.
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@ebmem They should have known what they received was illegal and should have immediately informed the FBI.
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If this had happen to a Republican we would be headed into months of hearings and accusations.
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I'll bet if this had happened to a Trump supporter, Trump would be immediately tweeting how it was just another example of how the "deep state" was opposing him. Instead he and his minions will no doubt say it was just an accident.
And isn't it funny that while we consider the Saudis our friends and send them arms, the Trumpians still would consider anything connected with the name to invoke terrorism (except of course when Trump is connected with it)
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Now that Senator McCain is being eulogized who in the Congress will express outrage against the people who disclosed personal information against a former CIA covert officer?
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Why is it that Republicans always have their hands dirty?
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@Welcome Canada -- good question.
What I'd like to know is, Why do they hate America?
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I'm confused--why was this file in the hands of the Post Office?
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@Steelmen
She worked as a postal inspector for two years, which requires a security clearance. It does not include any information about her activities as a CIA agent, it includes her biography, where she lived, where she went to school, etc. so that the security evaluation could be completed prier to her employment at the USPS.
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@Steelmen
Is how top-secret stuff travels, no? Post office has hand in everything.
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@Steelmen I had the same question. For the Post office to have it makes no sense.
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Well, I'll forget I read about it if you will.
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My local post office down the street has peoples' confidential files in storage???
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@Bill Wilkerson she worked for the postal service in a security role and had to file a security application similar to what she filed with the CIA. It’s in their records because of the job she held there.
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@Bill Wilkerson
The Post Office performs security evaluations of postal inspectors prior to employing them. Your local mail carrier does not require a security clearance.
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how can ANYONE have a right to another's social security number... what sleazy scum these republicans are
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@Nancy Felcetto Their first clue that something had been released that either should not have been or only if it was redacted.
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The CLF entity is neither a media company nor a member of the general public, and so it has no obvious legal rights to disclosure of sensitive and classified information about private citizens. Why is the US Postal Service not pursuing action against the employee or employees who illegally forwarded this information? What are David Partenheimer's private interests in covering for the CLF? What are the logistic and financial connections between the CLF and the USPS employee or employees who illegally released Ms. Spanberger's private information?
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@Alex
None of the materials released were of a classified nature. Nothing of her CIA activities is contained in her application for a job as a postal inspector.
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@ebmem Are you suggesting that there is no harm in the release because it contains no classified information?
If not, no worries. If so, that is incorrect. Ms. Spanberger's PII (personally identifiable information), including SSN, home address, birthplace, and passport number, was illegally released in violation of the Privacy Act. I believe those who further disseminated this information, irrespective of how they obtained it, are similarly in violation of the Privacy Act.
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Is it normal for the Postal Service to determine whether to release this type of document, from an ex-CIA operative no less. It seems odd to me.
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MORE right-wing "dirty tricks"?
How about prosecuting the "super PAC" for invasion of privacy, endangering the life of a person, and jeopardizing national security?
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@NYer
LOL
It's actually ironic since these are precisely the sort of "dirty tricks" that the CIA has used for decades to undermine actual democracies elsewhere in the world, where candidates deemed inimical to "US (corporate) interests" were subjected to the dirtiest tricks that people like Ms. Spam-burger could invent.
It's really just a classic case of chickens coming home to roost, in a manner of speaking.
@NYer
This is dirty tricks, all right, and it stinks.
Even if you take the USPS at its word and believe that the information was accidentally released, the people on the receiving end should have questioned why the information wasn't redacted, which is a common practice. No one releases Social Security information. That the file wasn't immediately returned shows just how low these people will go.
When I receive information in error, I immediately notify the sender and tell the sender that I'm going to delete or destroy the information. The more sensitive it is, the greater the responsibility to do the right thing.
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@NYer I believe the dissemination of the unredacted SF86 by the CLF -- irrespective of how they received it -- is a violation of her rights under the Privacy Act. Whoever in the CLF authorized its release should be criminally liable, and when they plead or are successfully prosecuted, could also have civil liability for damages. "But I didn't know!" and "But someone else gave it to me!" are not excuses that will fly with federal authorities.
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The speed with which the file was released to a Republican super pac versus the hold-up on the Democrat’s request, speaks volumes.
The rot is pervasive. Republicans cannot be trusted at any level. How can they come to an awareness that they are extinguishing the light that was lit in 1776? Why do they find money and power more alluring than living in what was a great country?
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"How can [the "covfefe" GOP] come to an awareness that they are extinguishing the light that was lit in 1776?"
They ARE aware. That's their goal. Our goal must be to prevent their evil; start with 11/6.
With the GOP, never attribute to incompetence that which is adequately explained by malice AND incompetence.
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"How can [the "covfefe" GOP] come to an awareness that they are extinguishing the light that was lit in 1776?"
They ARE aware. That's their goal. Our goal must be to prevent that; start with 11/6.
With the GOP, never attribute to incompetence that which is adequately explained by malice AND incompetence.
Why is release of this record the Post Office’s fault ?
It looks like The National Records Services released it quickly.
Who are they ?
Why did they release unredated file so quickly and completely
There must be more to how this happened. A government agency released this file- dishonestly. The post office delivered it.
More details. Who heads National Records Services. Political appointee?
Reveal what happened and who did this.
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@joyce No, the post office released the files. Read the coverage. They made the "error" and their spokesperson is addressing the matter. They were not merely the delivery service.
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The Postal Service had her OPF because she was a Postal Inspector for two years. The OPF would have had her background check in it, from that time.
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The whole excuse by the postal service smells funny. We live in a new world where politics dominates over the rule of law. If you support one side or the other this is a bad trend which has to stop before we become so polarized that there is no longer a middle ground.
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Well, Republicans in the Trump era have shown they have no morals so I wouldn’t hold my breath for them to do the right thing.
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