Passport Privacy Breaches Hit All Three Presidential Candidates

Jump to Comments

On Friday it was revealed that all three of the presidential candidates still running have had their passport files breached. One of those who had viewed Obama’s files had also looked into McCain’s records.

Clinton’s office said that she had been notified in 2007 about a breach of security concerning her passport files.

Obama has received an apology from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. It is unclear if she has also extended that sentiment to the other two candidates.

Two contractors were fired from the security breach concerning Obama and a third was disciplined. All of the breaches will be investigated.

“We are going to do an investigation through the inspector general,” she said. “None of us want us to have a situation where any American’s passport file is accessed in an unauthorized way.”

Rice said “it appears that the system worked” because the unauthorized viewing was flagged, but “it should have been known to senior management.”

The State Department says that they believe the privacy violations took place because of curious contractors. The department has not speculated if the private information was shared with anyone other than those who viewed it.

“That obviously is something we are investigating,” said Under Secretary of State Pat Kennedy. “I have no reason to believe they did, but I certainly am not going to be dismissive of what is a serious and valid question.”

Kennedy said he will brief Obama’s senior staff on Friday.

During the 1992 presidential campaign a breach of the passport information for then candidate Bill Clinton occurred. In his case someone ripped out pages from his files from the late 1960s and early 1970s.

“That obviously is something we are investigating,” Kennedy said. “I have no reason to believe they did, but I certainly am not going to be dismissive of what is a serious and valid question.”

1 Comment

Filed under politics