Corbett subpoenas Twitter for critics' names
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Corbett subpoenas Twitter for critics' names
State Attorney General Tom Corbett wants to know who's saying bad things about him in fewer than 140 characters:
[Corbett] subpoenaed Twitter, asking that it hand over the “name, address, contact information, creation date, creation Internet Protocol address and any and all log in Internet Protocol address” associated with two Twitter accounts, @bfbarbie and @casablancaPA, which have only 68 and 123 followers, respectively [as of Wednesday night, 124 and 206].
Both accounts have posted Tweets critical of the gubernatorial candidate. Are they enough to warrant subpoenas to discover their identities? Some items have claimed Corbett mixes campaign work with taxpayer business. Recent examples:
@casablancapa: “Is it wrong to mix campaign work with taxpayer business? Apparently not when Tom Corbett does it #bonusgate #pagovrace”
@casablancapa: Corbett: it's unethical to investigate political supporters. But only for other prosecutors. http://tiny.cc/quo10 #bonusgate @pagovrace
@bfbarbie: Corbett erupts at campaign event; security tries to eject questioner http://bit.ly/caIR44 #bonusgate can you say LOSER????
The "casablancapa" account is tied to a pseudonymous blog critical of Corbett, which posts a lot of detail about Bonusgate. The Tweeter tells TechCrunch: "We believe this is more about the blog than the Tweets. We have not received notification of a subpoena to Blogger, so we really don’t know. We are seeking legal representation and plan to ask Twitter not to comply."
You can read the subpoena below (as posted here). It demands the information because of "alleged violations of the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."
Whether and when it's OK for a court to order the release of an anonymous online poster's identity is still a developing area of the law. But we wonder if this benefits Corbett in any case. If he's successful, the best-case scenario is that he will have the names of two people who don't think he should be governor. Two people with a combined audience of fewer than 400 people (a number that Corbett himself has vastly inflated by issuing a subpoena).
There are millions of people who don't think he should be governor — and millions who think he should. Is there something special about these two? We might find out.
UPDATE: The story has taken a new twist, with the Post-Gazette reporting that Corbett's office believes CasablancaPA is being run by Brett Cott, a former legislative aide just convicted in the unfolding Bonusgate scandal. In court filings, two assistant attorneys general argue the blog demonstrates that Cott is deflecting blame and denying responsibility for the crimes of which he's been convicted. They are seeking a longer-than-normal sentence and basing their argument on that.
Corbett spokesman Kevin Harley told Politico that the attorney general didn't issue the subpoena because the Twitter users have been critical of Corbett and said it was issued as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. But he declined to go into further detail.
Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union has thrown itself into the fray, saying it will move to quash the subpoena if it can't reach a negotiated settlement with Corbett. And Allegheny County executive Dan Onorato, who will face Corbett in the fall gubernatorial election, has accused him of misusing his office.
Talk about abuse of power! Now I might have to follow these two on Twitter. Thanks Tom, I wouldn't have known about these tweeters if you hadn't SPENT TAXPAYER FUNDS to engage in a political witch hunt.— msmame- It's a critic, not an inside man giving out confidential info. If the twitterer had given out his personal cell phone number, or address of his kid's school, it would be a different story. Last I heard, the voting public has the right to air their frustrations about politics and political figures.— hulahoop
- thin skinned a bit?— Wannabeer
- i agree this happens on both sides, but this is pretty scary to think a politician can go after anyone criticizing him.... im going out on a limb and calling Corbet corrupt but i better be careful philly.com might be next to get subpoened...lol— karona
- What part of the Constitution of the United States of America doesn't Mr. (and I use the title losely) Corbett understand. Mr. Citizenc92, I believe Mr. Corbett is the Attorney General of PA, as well as a republican. You righties are always crying fowl when you get caught with your hands in the cookie jar, your great at tring to put the spin on the other guy (or party). Vince Fumo was a democrat and a crook okay, this guy is no better he is abusing the power of his office, entrusted to him by the voters. You've got rotten in your party too, pal, so own up to it.— annec
- i guess it could be considered libel— KillerPotato
- Twofold problem here. One is Corbett and two is the judge who signed off. Sounds like the Pa Supreme Court is going to have a judge to chastise.— cboath
Comment removed.- @citizenc92: Can't defend the hypocritical abuse of power? Where is the outrage from the conservative right? Isn't this exactly what you are against? Not allowing the government to over-reach their power by subverting our Constitutional rights? Isn't this a blatant abuse of using taxpayer money to try to suppress free-speech? Isn't it still legal to criticize politicians? You guys on the right are very good about that when it comes to Democrats. Or is it OK, as long as it's a republican doing the over-reaching?— obreaslan
- Any judge who signs off on that is as bad as Corbett. Absolutely disgraceful.— drbob1
- Comment removed.
- Is related to Richard Milhouse Nixon.— tiredoftheb#
- Not sure who I will vote sure, but it surely will NOT be Corbett. The backlash begins, and will continue until all these bums are voted OUT.— tonyS
- @Citizensc92 Really? Have any proof of this? Can't recall anyone in either party suing Twitter for saying bad things about them. And some try to say Obama is socialist.— kim batiste fan
This WAY out of line. A complete abuse of power! This America, NOT Iran or Russia!— ej610
