Inspector general rules: Ohio agencies snooped improperly on Joe the Plumber
posted at 2:44 pm on November 20, 2008 by Allahpundit
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A likely outcome. Realistically, there were only two possible motives: Simple curiosity about a new local celebrity or a political hit. And given how quickly Ted Strickland move to put Helen Jones-Kelley on paid leave, it’s pretty clear which one he thought it was.
No charges filed. Yet.
Helen Jones-Kelley, the suspended director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, “had no legitimate agency function or purpose to support her decision” to check on the newly minted political figure, the report states…
The report reached no conclusion on whether Jones-Kelley’s approval of the checks were politically motivated.
“However, the circumstances surrounding the unauthorized searches are exacerbated in light of the director’s sending and receiving e-mail related to a political activity through state resources,” the report said…
Charles said his report would be sent to the office of Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien for review…
The agency has no such policy in writing or records documenting such checks on the newly famous or rich, but state officials said the inspector general was provided with several examples of the practice from recent years.
Also implicated: Deputy director of child support Doug Thompson, whom you may recall “literally demanded” that JTP be checked for outstanding child support payments. Ace fears a whitewash is inevitable but I think we’ve reached enough of a critical mass between national news media and now the IG report that someone’s going to have to take the rap here. I hope Jones-Kelley’s mortgage is paid up, because even if the prosecutor doesn’t act, Wurzelbacher’s civil case just got a lot stronger. Exit question: Doesn’t the boldfaced part suggest that this wasn’t political?
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I think your ‘yet’ is wishful thinking
Vashta.Nerada on November 20, 2008 at 2:46 PM
FTFY
upinak on November 20, 2008 at 2:47 PM
And the consequences will be: nothing.
kcluva on November 20, 2008 at 2:47 PM
JTP needs the slimiest, ambulance chasingest lawyer in the country. I hear Edwards is available.
Laura in Maryland on November 20, 2008 at 2:48 PM
Be careful what ya say about her, Ed.
Akzed on November 20, 2008 at 2:49 PM
JTP needs the slimiest, ambulance chasingest lawyer in the country. I hear Edwards is available.
Laura in Maryland on November 20, 2008 at 2:48 PM
P.S. SUE BABY SUE!
Laura in Maryland on November 20, 2008 at 2:49 PM
In more ways than one…
Darksean on November 20, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Zing!
Laura in Maryland on November 20, 2008 at 2:51 PM
I’m shocked that Helen Barack-Obama-in-a-dress Jones-Kelley has not been charged yet.
A paid vacation will have to do.
DeweyWins on November 20, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Obama’s first pardon.
Ronnie on November 20, 2008 at 2:56 PM
I hear Aruba is nice this time of year.
chunderroad on November 20, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Maybe JTP can buy the plumbing business after this “public servant” settles the lawsuit.
Right_of_Attila on November 20, 2008 at 2:57 PM
It could suggest that it wasn’t political. Or it could suggest that it is systemic.
Matticus Finch on November 20, 2008 at 2:58 PM
Second, right after community housing provider Tony Rezko.
Laura in Maryland on November 20, 2008 at 2:59 PM
I expect her to be brought up on charges as soon as it can be reasonably determined that Hell has frozen over.
Wino on November 20, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Without knowing specifics, how do we know some of the “several examples” weren’t politically motivated too?
And going at it from another angle, all the “several examples” show is that there is a pattern of people abusing their position -it does not mean doing so is OK!
taznar on November 20, 2008 at 3:01 PM
FIFY. May I suggest a nice cruise.
Laura in Maryland on November 20, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Does it? This is certainly something that has happened before, which doesn’t portent well for the bureaucratic snoops either way.
I think the maxed-out donations to Barack Obama from Helen Jones-Kelley suggest that it was political, coupled with the AG snooping and leaking intended to “help” the media.
Good Lt on November 20, 2008 at 3:01 PM
*portend
Good Lt on November 20, 2008 at 3:02 PM
My thoughts too, sadly.
It’s hard not to be pessimistic, especially after the utterly free ride this next president got during the campaign.
ToddonCapeCod on November 20, 2008 at 3:02 PM
But..but..she was just doing her civic duty there, dontcha know.
AubieJon on November 20, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Sue Joe. Sue like the wind…
loudmouth883 on November 20, 2008 at 3:03 PM
I have no doubt that the incoming administration will see to it that this woman is dealt with appropriately.
Unfortunately, what they deem “appropriate” will include a promotion, pay raise, appearances on the lecture circuit… maybe she’ll replace Oprah.
malclave on November 20, 2008 at 3:07 PM
And so will the lefty commentators chime in on how this is no big deal?
rbj on November 20, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Allah,
They are Government employes, the bold type is about Butt Covering…that’s how they do it.
Dr Evil on November 20, 2008 at 3:08 PM
And then?????????
drjohn on November 20, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Paid leave.
Oh, the inhumanity of it all.
drjohn on November 20, 2008 at 3:10 PM
ACLU spokesmen (crickets), eager to get involved on JTP’s behalf, say…
…chirp…chirp…
whitetop on November 20, 2008 at 3:11 PM
You’re racist for even reporting this story. How much more disenfranchisement can this poor woman/victim take? (/sarc off)
BoSox_or_Bust on November 20, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Nope. Especially not without examples.
Grafted on November 20, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Where is that ACLU? Oh yeah. JTP isn’t a minority,gay,a woman,or handicap.
portlandon on November 20, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Tony Rezko isn’t going to be pardoned, at least not voluntarily. He’s safer in police custody; the man sings like a lark!
fiscallyconservative on November 20, 2008 at 3:29 PM
I assume that this person’s name is Sherlock.
Physics Geek on November 20, 2008 at 3:33 PM
They will return shortly. They took a break to go to Starbucks and consult to make sure that they all had the same talking-points memo.
Yoop on November 20, 2008 at 3:40 PM
I think this is the perfect time for a Citizen’s Arrest…….
Seven Percent Solution on November 20, 2008 at 3:42 PM
But he is an endangered species (a male WASP)!
IrishEyes on November 20, 2008 at 3:42 PM
Exit question: Doesn’t the boldfaced part suggest that this wasn’t political?
That’s hard to tell without us knowing what each example is. I mean, it’s obvious how partisan groups like Americans United for Separation of Church and state are. They sue all the time, but almost entirely … and ONLY conservative churches.
I’d bet that most of those examples are … going after conservatives. If they aren’t then you might have a point.
One Angry Christian on November 20, 2008 at 3:43 PM
What a crock o crap! my better half works for the Feds, if she had done something like this she`d have been fired (instantly) AND prosecuted by the internal police. If there is ANY justice left in this country she will be reprimanded in a most severe fashion….I`m not holding my breath.
NY Conservative on November 20, 2008 at 3:48 PM
It underlies the problem of ANY agency with too much information or control over our lives. People being flawed WILL abuse their positions repeatedly.
Where the hell is the ACLU?
Jason Gillman on November 20, 2008 at 3:48 PM
I hope JTP sues the pants off of her and gets a very nice settlement. Of course he’ll be taxed if he gets over
$250,000…$200,000…$150,000… or just any amount for that matter.Sanjoboy on November 20, 2008 at 3:49 PM
Pay the gentleman. Go get ‘em Joe.
Dont win and give it all to charity either. Start your business you’ve been wanting.
johnnyU on November 20, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Sanjoboy,
Lawsuit awards are not taxable. They are considered the reimbursement to make you whole again; they replace what was damaged. This is why only injured parties can file lawsuits. The awards are supposedly a replacement for what was injured.
Wino on November 20, 2008 at 3:54 PM
No, it says that the department is guilty of snooping without any sort of written guidelines as to when and what safeguards are taken. You’d have to actually look at the cases offered to make a determination about motivation. You’d also have to determine if these were the only cases or selectively provided to put the best possible face on what promises to be a very expensive civil lawsuit and black eye for Ohio Democrats.
highhopes on November 20, 2008 at 4:01 PM
As long as JTP gets his, then she can stay in her job forever. A multi million (unless the state has a cap law in place) dollar settlement will do wonders for shackling the loose cannon liberals.
csdeven on November 20, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Of course it was politically motivated, but it really doesn’t matter if it was political, just that it wasn’t appropriate. Authorities don’t have the right to poke through people’s personal records for kicks. She should be fired simply for not having a policy in place, frankly.
Any institution charged with maintaining and accessing personal information is required to have safeguards in place. In higher ed, the universities are under tremendous risk for law suits if they fail to train their staff in proper procedures for accessing and divulging student records, for example. In fundraising, organizations are subject to strict ethical and legal requirements in handling and accessing sensitive donor records which usually include financial and personal data.
And, who says the examples provided weren’t politically motivated. Do we know what they are yet? More importantly, do the folks whose records were violated know that they were subject to inappropriate scrutiny yet?
Y-not on November 20, 2008 at 4:10 PM
There is a better chance of Santa Claus dropping 20,000 in my stocking than anyone getting in real trouble for this.
Irvin88 on November 20, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Or a Congressman having $90K in his freezer.
This is one of those situations where there will be a lot of fuss, JTP will get an undisclosed negotiated settlement, criminals like Jones-Kelley will be allowed to resign and slink into obscurity. The only ones who get screwed are future JTP’s because the state hasn’t fundamentally changed the safeguards to protect privacy.
highhopes on November 20, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Go after her law license… too… that is the icing on the cake
theblacksheepwasright on November 20, 2008 at 4:33 PM
…if she and/or her minions had only checked JTP out, perhaps…but, not content with checking him out, they outed him…check?
Had they only run a check, which government agencies have the responsibility to do under normal circumstances, for normal workaday reasons, JTP wouldn’t have a gripe. The fact that the details of Mr. TP’s hitherto private existence was suddenly broadcast for all the world to see, as political fodder, shows the heavy and ham-fisted hand of politics…as played by toddlers….
…children can be so cruel….
Puritan1648 on November 20, 2008 at 4:46 PM
…just think…in just my lifetime (so far)….
…we’ve gone from a nation where a black man, let alone a woman, was automatically guilty, or at the very least in dire straits, solely on the basis of skin color…it was a presumption of guilt, and the system would move quickly to protect white middle America from the nasty black man….
…today, the white middle American is put upon by the black woman, and the system breaks all land speed records to close ranks ’round her and protect her from consequence…almost as if she was doing the system’s bidding in the first place….
…what a country…who says we haven’t made progress on race in America?!
Puritan1648 on November 20, 2008 at 5:00 PM
And the reason why anyone remotely associated with these illegal acts are still employed and/or not in jail yet??????
TrickyDick on November 20, 2008 at 5:06 PM
JTP needs the slimiest, ambulance chasingest lawyer in the country. I hear Edwards is available.
Laura in Maryland on November 20, 2008 at 2:48 PM
No she doesn’t. She’s not white….
max1 on November 20, 2008 at 5:11 PM
A sense of accountability in a government. Wow…. be still be beating heart.
Sue the snot out of her JTP. No mercy.
Hog Wild on November 20, 2008 at 5:25 PM
Wonder if she still has that petarded smile on her face now?
Never go full tard…
Claypigeon on November 20, 2008 at 5:28 PM
These are the sort of “public officials” we, here, in most of Ohio have to deal with…from the current Governor (who sets the tone) on down to the clerk of courts and city administration. Toledo, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland…pretty much the same.
Charges are going to be filed? No.
“The report reached no conclusion on whether Jones-Kelley’s approval of the checks were politically motivated.”
Everything else is merely coincidental…yeah, right.
This isn’t the Ohio I once knew.
coldwarrior on November 20, 2008 at 5:28 PM
Thanks for the info. With this new Congress coming up, I wouldn’t put anything pass them.
Sanjoboy on November 20, 2008 at 5:45 PM
He who laughs last laughs best. Sock-it-to-’em, JTP….
DL13 on November 20, 2008 at 7:22 PM
Joe the Plumber hit the jackpot. I smell a lawsuit. Better my tax dollars to him than almost any DEM.
Jamson64 on November 20, 2008 at 7:57 PM
To those looking for an example, I believe Ms. Jones-Kelly pulled a lottery winner out of her hindquarters as an example when this was discovered. We will have to wait to see what else she comes up with.
Cindy Munford on November 20, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Don’t worry Helen. BO will have a spot in his administration for a loyal kool-aid drinker like yourself.
DuctTapeMyBrain on November 20, 2008 at 10:17 PM
“It concludes that there was “no legitimate agency function or purpose” but does not find that it was politically motivated.”
WOW!
That’s like concluding that someone who robs banks is not motivated by MONEY!
DSchoen on November 21, 2008 at 10:53 AM
I hope he gets enough money out of this to start a business, but not in Ohio, because that State is so obviously corrupt they will kill his business with fines and inspections
entagor on November 21, 2008 at 1:55 PM
I hope he gets as much money as Gorelick got in salary ($567K) and bonus ($779K) as vice chairman of Fannie Mae in 1998
entagor on November 21, 2008 at 2:04 PM
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