Report: Feds serve search warrant on suspected Palin e-mail hacker
posted at 6:04 pm on September 21, 2008 by Allahpundit
As “rubico” himself so memorably said, “if this sh*t ever got to the FBI I was f***ed.” With today’s news, I think we can safely say that the sh*t has indeed gotten to the FBI.
Worst party evah:
A person who identified himself as a witness tells 10 News that agents with the FBI served a federal search warrant at the Fort Sanders residence of David Kernell early Sunday morning. Kernell lives in the Commons apartment complex at 1115 Highland Ave…
A Department of Justice spokesperson confirmed there has been “investigatory activity” in Knoxville regarding the Palin case, but she said there are no publicly available search warrants, and no charges have been filed.
A separate law enforcement source confirmed to 10 News that a search warrant was served on Kernell’s apartment.
According to the witness, several agents arrived at The Commons of Knoxville around midnight.
They presented their badges upon entering Kernell’s apartment, where several students were having a party, and took down their names.
The witness tells us they asked him and those who did not live in the unit to go outside. He believes the investigators took about 1.5 to 2 hours taking pictures of everything inside the apartment.
What were they doing serving a search warrant circa 1 a.m. on Sunday morning? Just maximizing the embarrassment by crashing this kid’s party, a sort of buzzkill di tutti buzzkills? Kind of jerky — yet kind of awesome.
Needless to say, continue to exercise caution; just because they think he might have evidence doesn’t necessarily means he’s the suspect. But as the Jawas point out, if this is all a coincidence or a case of mistaken identity, it’s a pretty spectacular one. Exit quotation: “David Kernell excelled at chess while at Germantown High School and won the 2004 Tennessee Open Scholastic Chess Championship. Internet searches show someone uses the handle rubico on chess Web sites. In addition, an inactive blog, with one post dated May 2004, included rubico as a username. Its author identified himself as a chess player from Memphis named David.”
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Mostly awesome.
Editor on September 21, 2008 at 6:07 PM
Great! Nail him to the wall. Figuratively speaking.
Spirit of 1776 on September 21, 2008 at 6:07 PM
Sounds like someone won an all expense paid trip to Club Gitmo.
El_Terrible on September 21, 2008 at 6:08 PM
Obligatory “he’ll be hearing ‘checkmate’ in prison” joke.
Yeah, that was weak; sorry.
Pasalubong on September 21, 2008 at 6:08 PM
They probably crashed the party to be sure shredders and magnets weren’t the party favors.
Sekhmet on September 21, 2008 at 6:10 PM
Perhaps he can be keynot speaker for the democrats in 2012.
SouthernGent on September 21, 2008 at 6:10 PM
Hard telling what you’ll find in plain view in a kid’s apartment at 1:00 AM….especially if there’s a party going on.
tgharris on September 21, 2008 at 6:11 PM
Plus the new password he gave to Palin’s account and then posted at /b/ was “popcorn”. Kernell = popcorn.
And these clowns have the nerve to say Palin is stupid?
rockmom on September 21, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Probably a failed effort to attract that check chick whose photo was here a couple of days ago.
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on September 21, 2008 at 6:13 PM
“tgharris on September 21, 2008 at 6:11 PM”
yep – additional charges mania!
/enjoying this jerk’s downfall waaay too much …
Buckaroo on September 21, 2008 at 6:15 PM
They are absolutely tearing the kid to hell on 4chan. Its hilarious and extremely NSFW. I think at last count there were about 4 dozen prison rape jokes and pictures.
http://img.4chan.org/b/src/1222033870723.jpg
HAHAHAHA.
muyoso on September 21, 2008 at 6:15 PM
So with the photo’s and names of the party attendees, the Feds in Tennessee can start one of those database trees of bad guys that have been so successful in breaking up terrorist cells in Iraq. Every attendee at that party should have a red flag on their name from now until they are at least 35.
NahnCee on September 21, 2008 at 6:15 PM
There should be additional investigation to this kid’s connection with the Obama campaign. I am sure they sent him to do the dirty work.
jencab on September 21, 2008 at 6:15 PM
If they did I imagine this is the type of kid who will sing and sing quickly!
ArmyAunt on September 21, 2008 at 6:18 PM
http://img.4chan.org/b/src/1222035320466.jpg
muyoso on September 21, 2008 at 6:19 PM
And now watch the media bury it, and his affiliation…
Seixon on September 21, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Probably no official connection, but…
Those two hacktivists in FL who recorded Newt’s cell phone never were punished.
Neither was the NY Slimes for printing his conversation.
jgapinoy on September 21, 2008 at 6:21 PM
It’s about time we started going after the slezoids on the left.
I say 4 years hard time.
Ya know if they waterboarded that slut in Florida we could close that case.
But OH NO her civil rites are more important than that little girls rite to life.
“O” Dumby will say so what she should have aborted her.
Rick007 on September 21, 2008 at 6:22 PM
I’m guessing this kid never threw a party before this and was probably trying to capitalize on his new found “fame”. The feds were capitalizing on the fact they could embarrass him in front of all his new friends.
Editor on September 21, 2008 at 6:22 PM
Ah huh, I’m sure the feds #1 goal was to embarrass him in front of his new friends. Yeah, right.
wise_man on September 21, 2008 at 6:24 PM
Its obvious why they did it at 1 am. He will have obviously been drinking, and since he is underage, they have TOTAL discretion to keep him on that while they investigate, or do whatever they like. Also, while he is drunk, he will not be thinking clearly, something police always look for.
muyoso on September 21, 2008 at 6:27 PM
knock, knock
Who’s there?
4chan party van.
:)
j/k FBI lol!
Ars Moriendi on September 21, 2008 at 6:29 PM
Dumbass.
Terrye on September 21, 2008 at 6:31 PM
Could be the best comment over there so far:
“And why should we–and by we I mean I–care? I didn’t tell him to do it. All I did was laugh about it. People all over the world do stupid things that I laugh about, and then they get in trouble. Maybe if I’d Double Dog Dared them to do do stupid things I’d have some sense of responsibility, but I didn’t and don’t.
As such, I only care about David getting caught insofar as it leads to further lulz.”
muyoso on September 21, 2008 at 6:31 PM
ROFL!
KSgop on September 21, 2008 at 6:32 PM
And to take gather names of close associates all in one fell swoop while together at that late of the hour,probably his tightest associates.
Saltysam on September 21, 2008 at 6:32 PM
Pass the vagisil please!
ReaganConservative3 on September 21, 2008 at 6:33 PM
You’re a bit behind the inof curve, Allah; the chess connection and the dead blog were known about 4 days ago (including some embarrassing admissions on the dead blog).
As for showing up to crash the party, did you think what they might want to have get in the face of some of his buddies, who might be in on it? Birds of a feather…?
michaelo on September 21, 2008 at 6:33 PM
@ Saltysam on September 21, 2008 at 6:32 PM
Exactly, all people they can use to testify against him, because if its my ass on the line and some guy I drink with occasionally is looking at doing some serious time, sorry guy, I am not sacrificing my entire life to defend some guy who guessed a password correct to some email account.
muyoso on September 21, 2008 at 6:34 PM
Oh, those wacky FBI dudes! Crashing students’ parties at 0100 would never get old. I think I picked the wrong career.
lodge on September 21, 2008 at 6:36 PM
*channeling the Drive-By media*
Nothing to see here, folks. Just another miscreant internet hacker. That’s all. Now move along…move along.
Hey! Look over there! Someone found a pair of red lace panties in Sarah Palin’s dresser drawer. Now THERE is a story. Pay attention to it.
ManlyRash on September 21, 2008 at 6:36 PM
Bubba and Leroy can’t wait to say hello to this jerk.
Jdripper on September 21, 2008 at 6:36 PM
yes but he’s had about a week to dispose of his computer, so i’m not getting my hopes up yet.
eaglewingz08 on September 21, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Just in time for the Monday morning news cycle.
This is bigger than Watergate!
ericdondero on September 21, 2008 at 6:39 PM
Cue theme song for “Jaws” here…
newton on September 21, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Here’s why I’m pretty sure the FBI has it man … or manchild.
CanadianGuy on September 21, 2008 at 6:42 PM
for christs sake Allah, find another pic of the Governor..
Is that a preg pic?
do something please…
stlpatriot on September 21, 2008 at 6:42 PM
Rep. Mike Kernell should resign!!!
Huh? He’s a Democrat?
Oh never mind, the media will forget in a week or so.
hawkdriver on September 21, 2008 at 6:42 PM
The **** getting to the FBI should be a definite buzz kill for this jerk.
This kid needs to figure out who he can rat out in the Obama campaign. Otherwise, he is not going to like his future roommates.
Time to burn the popcorn!
Right_of_Attila on September 21, 2008 at 6:42 PM
How much you want to bet this gets just a blurb in the media if it ends up being the democrats kid.
The same people who cried and screamed about the invasion of privacy rights and the Constitution being torn up when the Bush Administrations NSA wiretapping program was revealed are the same people with no outrage about it now since Obama is for it.
Remember hearing the outrage when these elected officials family members became “liberal outlaws”:
Report: Florida Congressman’s Son Arrested as Alleged ‘Coyote’
Thursday, September 18, 2008
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,424648,00.html
Democratic Mayor and Congresswoman’s son Slash GOP”Get out the vote”vans
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=294326
They were later found guilty with the parents saying “They were proud of them”.
Heard nothing about Al Gore’s speeding drugged out kid who is a repeat offender.
The Bush girls made headlines when they were caught drinking.
My fault,the criminals that make up the democratic party are not important,let’s talk about how many cars Cindy and John McCain have.
Baxter Greene on September 21, 2008 at 6:43 PM
I didn’t think these guys were too keen on FISA tactics.
Huh? It was a Republican he was spying on?
Never mind.
hawkdriver on September 21, 2008 at 6:44 PM
Awesome! Of course, I agree they will be burying the word…democrat!
becki51758 on September 21, 2008 at 6:45 PM
…….a future Superdelegates.
try again later on September 21, 2008 at 6:46 PM
It only took the FBI 4 days after the perp was fingered all over the Internet for the Feds to swing into action with a search warrant. I feel so safe now knowing how quickly they act.
TheBigOldDog on September 21, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Too bad underage drinking isn’t a federal offense. Wonder if there were any funny cigarettes around.
Can just imagine the knock on the door when the partying was going on: “Who’s there?” “The FBI.” “Yeah, right dude. Go crash another party.”
Wethal on September 21, 2008 at 6:48 PM
State authorities who arrive in the early morning has always had a special cachet.
BL@KBIRD on September 21, 2008 at 6:49 PM
I remember the rental vehicles getting tire slashed. To the media it was “yawn”.
hawkdriver on September 21, 2008 at 6:50 PM
check
custer on September 21, 2008 at 6:50 PM
AP,
You left this out, from Canadian Guy blog:
Subpoenas for his roommates would indicate that there will be a grand jury next week in Federal court.
This will not make him popular with his (current) roommates, since Chattanooga is a 2-hour drive from UT-Knoxville.
Right_of_Attila on September 21, 2008 at 6:51 PM
That’s funny … right there.
wise_man on September 21, 2008 at 6:53 PM
Too bad he won’t be joined in prison by these fellas… oh wait they are GOP and the Senate Leader’s staff… never mind… double standard in full effect.
Hypocrisy is always alive and well with the partisan left and right! God Bless America.
Bradky on September 21, 2008 at 6:59 PM
Roommates’ lawyers not allowed inside grand jury, right? They’ll be scared s******* and spill everything they ever did. Or at least rat out the hacker.
Wethal on September 21, 2008 at 7:01 PM
At first that’s how I felt. What a dumbass this kid and his fanclub are. I still believe that.
However I think Gov Palin screwed up beyond epic proportions by (as reported) using Yahoo servers for governement business. When she signed up for the account, she was the person who chose the answer to those “security questions.” She knew that those answers were the only thing protecting Alaskan state business. If a Democrat had done something like that they would be a laughing stock forever in my mind.
This was a real letdown on many counts. It’s sad to watch the left degenerate into swillpiss. It’s worse to watch the right losing ground to them.
If this kid turns out to be the phisher I hope he gets reamed. Although according to this article might be doubtful.
I hope this issue doesn’t become a slow-leak in my Palin bubble.
The Race Card on September 21, 2008 at 7:02 PM
Impale the punk.
Benjamin9 on September 21, 2008 at 7:05 PM
Why did they just take pictures of the apartment? WHy didn’t they take possession of the computer?
Sounds more like getting prepared for an interior decorator than an investigation!
ToddonCapeCod on September 21, 2008 at 7:05 PM
“”There appears to have been no hacking, no stealing, and no violation of any Senate rule,” Miranda said. “Stealing assumes a property right and there is no property right to a government document. . . . These documents are not covered under the Senate disclosure rule because they are not official business and, to the extent they were disclosed, they were disclosed inadvertently by negligent [Democratic] staff.”"
Unethical and not anything to be proud of.
No law broken though.
hawkdriver on September 21, 2008 at 7:06 PM
Testing.
PA Cat on September 21, 2008 at 7:07 PM
OT: has anyone else had problems with the comment feature over the past few hours?
PA Cat on September 21, 2008 at 7:08 PM
Sorry reference to…
Bradky on September 21, 2008 at 6:59 PM
“”There appears to have been no hacking, no stealing, and no violation of any Senate rule,” Miranda said. “Stealing assumes a property right and there is no property right to a government document. . . . These documents are not covered under the Senate disclosure rule because they are not official business and, to the extent they were disclosed, they were disclosed inadvertently by negligent [Democratic] staff.””
Unethical and not anything to be proud of.
No law broken though.
hawkdriver on September 21, 2008 at 7:08 PM
I love the smell of hypocrisy in the evening…
Bradky on September 21, 2008 at 7:11 PM
I think the length of the drive to Chattanooga will be the least of the things that are currently pissing off his roommates. Federal grand juries are scary things.
Realist on September 21, 2008 at 7:15 PM
If this were the case, don’t you think our resident genius would have posted the incriminating evidence as soon as he found it?
Other than the Associated Press (aka Obama’s Footlickers) making unfounded accusations, there’s been no proof her doing anything other than having an email account with “gov.palin”. Last I checked it’s not illegal or even unethical to use a title.
darury on September 21, 2008 at 7:16 PM
AllahPundit, have I ever told you how much I love your italics?
Sir Andrew on September 21, 2008 at 7:19 PM
I’ll bet their parents are reeaallll happy that they have to go out and pay to consult lawyers, too.
Wethal on September 21, 2008 at 7:21 PM
The Race Card on September 21, 2008 at 7:02 PM
I have heard conflicting reports on whether she actually used this email for official business. As to the trouble this young gentleman will have, messing up his party is probably the extent of it. If there is no link to Party officials and this was just a goof, I believe this will disappear very quickly.
Cindy Munford on September 21, 2008 at 7:23 PM
You guys are softening up like the media…no mention that..”David Kernell is the son of Mike Kernell, a Democratic state representative from Memphis.”
Come on…dont be afraid to say it. Get some ballz.
malkinmania on September 21, 2008 at 7:24 PM
waterboard his ass and find out how he fot the yahoo email addy
custer on September 21, 2008 at 7:25 PM
Not necessarily. Hacking is a federal offense. A local newscaster in Philly hacked into the private email of his co-anchor, and leaked some private info to the local paper. He pled guilty and is looking at jail time. Lost his job, too.
Wethal on September 21, 2008 at 7:26 PM
I say make him serve his sentence in Barney Franks basement that was used as a young male romper room.
malkinmania on September 21, 2008 at 7:27 PM
He plays chess, huh. What does he like on his pizza?
Ronnie on September 21, 2008 at 7:27 PM
Race…………… please provide an example. Just one will do. Thanks.
Seven Percent Solution on September 21, 2008 at 7:28 PM
I have to admit that the phrase “investigatory activity” just tickles me. It just sounds silly.
Cindy Munford on September 21, 2008 at 7:28 PM
In the cell where he will be the pizza is placed on the floor.
malkinmania on September 21, 2008 at 7:29 PM
Wethal on September 21, 2008 at 7:26 PM
Well color me skeptical but considering this young man’s father, I expect nothing.
Cindy Munford on September 21, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Kernell will get his corn popped
malkinmania on September 21, 2008 at 7:30 PM
I hope they grabbed up all the computers and digital storage devices.
aikidoka on September 21, 2008 at 7:33 PM
The two smart pants who taped phone calls of Newt and then passed to the Seattle rep were punished, and McDermott paid a ton to the republican’s legal bills for losing a drawn out legal battle.
JAW on September 21, 2008 at 7:37 PM
Does anyone else think that if this had been the son of an elected republican we’d have video of the whole thing, because the BSM would have been camped out in front of his pad since the first second this kid’s name popped up?
Rodent on September 21, 2008 at 7:41 PM
“I love the smell of hypocrisy in the evening…
Bradky on September 21, 2008 at 7:11 PM”
Yes and Liberals are all too familiar with what it smells like. Try a breath mint.
hawkdriver on September 21, 2008 at 7:42 PM
Someone got his Facebook page saved and found connections between this dude and a senior Obama campaign official (as in, something beyond simply this guy being “friends” with that campaign official).
We need THREE parallel investigations into Obama practices:
1. Ace of Spade’s astroturfing story (once revealed)
2. This story and the potential connections between this guy and the Obama campaign
3. Al Franken engaging in coordination activities with Saturday Night Live to basically use the John McCain skit to run a campaign commercial for the Democrats.
Now, how do we seed this into the MSM? These are all very serious incidents of potential misconduct by the Obama campaign… This needs to get attention.
Outlander on September 21, 2008 at 7:50 PM
The rotten apple does not fall far from the diseased tree.
Elizabetty on September 21, 2008 at 7:50 PM
Nice try Horatio. Keep making those weak excuses. 20 year old college student – Senate Majority leader. Hmmm which is more shocking. Oh never mind – arguing with the PalinHeads is even less fruitful than arguing with a Fredhead….
Bradky on September 21, 2008 at 7:51 PM
He is going to have the slit the throat of a reporter on air to get the press to investigate him. Anything short of that is okay with them.
Elizabetty on September 21, 2008 at 7:52 PM
Looks like the football players aren’t the only UT students who had a rough weekend….
radjah shelduck on September 21, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Let’s recap: His father is democratic state representative, Mike Kernell. Other than having to spend $$ on defense lawyers and possibly paying a fine, this kid won’t see any jail time.
alwaysright43 on September 21, 2008 at 7:54 PM
Here is the website that references the potentially tracing of this alleged hacker to David Plouffe of the Obama campaign – http://www.mikefrancesa.com/wordpress/?p=1210
Outlander on September 21, 2008 at 7:54 PM
“Nice try Horatio. Keep making those weak excuses. 20 year old college student – Senate Majority leader. Hmmm which is more shocking. Oh never mind – arguing with the PalinHeads is even less fruitful than arguing with a Fredhead….
Bradky on September 21, 2008 at 7:51 PM”
yawn
tickturd
next
hawkdriver on September 21, 2008 at 8:01 PM
Pretty-boy-hacker meets his new roommate at the crossbar hotel, Bubba:
Bubba (who weighs about 300 pounds and is about the size of a cement truck): “Do youse wanna be da hubband or da wife?”
Pretty-boy-hacker (weighing his choices, decides on the lesser evil): “I’ll be the husband”
Bubba: “OK, here be da rules: every morning da hubband s**ks da wife’s d**k”.
brushman on September 21, 2008 at 8:02 PM
I’m not so sure you ever had a Palin “bubble.”
ManlyRash on September 21, 2008 at 8:08 PM
What makes you think they care what happens to Hannity?
Jim Treacher on September 21, 2008 at 8:18 PM
lmao!
Ozprey on September 21, 2008 at 8:19 PM
I didn’t know that. Regardless, this crime should be dealt with appropriate even if justice failed in the past.
Spirit of 1776 on September 21, 2008 at 8:19 PM
He is not a repoter.
He is just Common Tater.
Elizabetty on September 21, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Like what? Pictures of her kids?
Jim Treacher on September 21, 2008 at 8:31 PM
Regardless of who the victim was, the hacker broke the law. He needs to face the consequences of his illegal and idiotic actions.
P.S. Other than a bunch of whispers, no one has actually shown that Sarah Palin was doing “official” business on the yahoo account. But that is beside the point.
mjk on September 21, 2008 at 8:33 PM
Treach, don’t you know that pictures of her kids are official state business? Especially if some Troofer can “prove” to his v*rg*n friends that Sarah isn’t the mother of little Trig. Or some such BS.
mjk on September 21, 2008 at 8:35 PM
I would like to see the losers at Gawker spend some time in Club Gitmo…
ZoneDaiatlas on September 21, 2008 at 8:40 PM
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