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“‘Joe the Plumber’ sues over Ohio records probe”

By: scipio62 (Diary)  |  March 5th, 2009 at 03:52 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Good for him:

“Joe the Plumber” is suing three former state officials in Ohio, saying they violated his privacy when they gathered his personal information in a records search.

There was absolutely no reason, other than political, for employees who work for the State of Ohio to investigate Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, aka “Joe the Plumber”.


The lawsuit names Helen Jones-Kelley, who resigned in December as director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, and two assistants.

Ohio’s inspector general found that Jones-Kelley improperly used state computers to find personal information on Wurzelbacher,…

Being this article came from the AP, there’s no mention that Jones-Kelley did a little bit more as well:

…Ohio Inspector General Tom Charles’ report found Jones-Kelley improperly authorized searches of state databases in the heat of the presidential campaign and also improperly used her state e-mail account to raise money for Democrat Barack Obama.

It’s too bad Joe isn’t going after the State of Ohio since Jones-Kelley was doing what she was doing while at work, making the state somewhat responsible for her conduct. Maybe there’s something in Ohio’s legal code that precludes the state from this kind of responsibility, and that’s why the State isn’t part of the suit.

I doubt Joe will get much financially; hopefully he’ll get Jones-Kelley to admit she was wrong for what she did and get her to apologize for her actions.

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COMMENTS

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  • http://www.theproverbialtundra.com ambroseburnside

    Yeah, he thrust himself into the spotlight, but that doesn’t excuse his privacy being invaded for no reason.

    Who knows, maybe after a judgment or settlement, he really will get hit by the $250k+ tax increase.

  • Leopard1996

    I hope when all was said and done, this chick can’t get a job as a prostitute in Toledo, and that she is so broke she is swallowing her own spit for nourishment.

  • http://www.theotherworsham.blogspot.com toddworsham

    Good for Joe, maybe this episode will make more people realize that government on all levels is often corrupt. Its not just blago pimping that senate seat, or clintons oval office misdeeds, but its also low level government workers abuse their power and often lord it over us mere subjects.

    That a government employee would abuse their power to try and destroy a private citizen shouldnt be surprising at all. Government works from all levels whether the dog catcher or the senator commonly abuse their posistion for personal gain often making life for us mere mortals less convenient. (See william Jefferson D-LA using national guard resources to get some money out of the fridge…I guess it would go bad in there without the power?)

    I honestly doubt joe will be able to make much headway, hopefully I am wrong but this will provide a good distraction from the current disgrace that is the federal government being led our dear leader.

    theotherworsham.blogspot.com

  • Jeff Weimer

    Regardless of his indiscretions, his question did have a point,didn’t it? And his first name is Samuel – my first name is Robert (and I go by Jeff). Why is that a problem?

  • Jack_Savage

    Thanks for this.

  • scipio62

    And thanks for the recommendation.

  • Wayne

    I think that an employee of a government entity, while acting in that capacity, who commits an unlawful act, subjects themselves and their employer to sanctions. I don’t know where the governmental immunity kicks in, in each state. There’s no way the State of Ohio can argue that this was an isolated, one-time incident.
    And Ambrose, he didn’t “thrust himself” into the limelight, The Obamunist approached Joe, not the other way around.