More on the Palin hacker from Wired:
The story was briefly posted Wednesday to the 4chan forum where the hack first surfaced. Bloggers have connected the handle of the poster, "Rubico," to an e-mail address, and tentatively identified the owner as a college student in Tennessee.
Threat Level was unable to reach the student by phone because his number is unlisted. A person who identified himself as the student's father, when reached at home, said he could not talk about the matter and would have no comment. The father is a Democratic state representative in Tennessee. Threat Level is not identifying them by name because authorities have not identified any suspects in the case, and the link to the student so far is tenuous.
Don't want to read too much into that comment, but why would he say he couldn't talk about the matter -- if those were his exact words or just poor paraphrasing by Wired?
Wired is correct in not naming names here because the link is tenuous and it's likely the rubico10 email is fake. But there are other coincidences between the student in Tennessee and this controvesy, including how his last name fits nicely with the new password the hacker selected for Palin's account.
If this student is the hacker, conservatives would be wise not to quickly blame the father for the son's behaviour, just as it should have been in the Bristol Palin controversy -- although hacking is a crime and pregnancy isn't.
At the Weekly Standard, Mary Katharine Hamm predicts the media will be easy on the father if this is true.
I'm sure if it does end up being a Democrat's son who's the culprit, the media will regain its respect for the privacy of politicians' children but quick. Perhaps should Bristol Palin should engage in something more illegal and high profile next time to stave off the press.
UPDATE: Tennessean: State rep’s son contacted in Palin e-mail probe
NASHVILLE – The son of state Rep. Mike Kernell has been contacted by authorities in connection with a probe into the hacking of personal e-mail of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, Kernell told The Tennessean.
Kernell, a Memphis Democrat, said his 20-year-old son David had been contacted by authorities investigating the hacking of Palin’s personal e-mail account, the newspaper reported on its Web site this afternoon.
Again .... Kernell has only been contacted by authorities and is not a suspect.
UPDATE: The Tennessee paper rejigged it's story and only say that Kernell said he is aware his son is the subject of Internet rumours.
UPDATE: A blogger claiming to have a relationship with Rep. Kernell says they spoke with him tonight and that neither he nor his son have been contacted by the FBI.
I just got off the phone with Mike Kernell at 6:21 pm CST, and as of that time, neither he nor his son has been contacted by the FBI, Secret Service or any other branch of law enforcement or the government.
So far, everything going on about David Kernell hacking Palin's computer is RUMOR. Again, NO ONE HAS INVESTIGATED HIM.
If that changes, I will let you know, but as of this moment, there has been no investigation into David Kernell hacking Palin's computer.
On a personal note, I need to say something about Mike Kernell. Rep. Kernell has more integrity than almost anyone I know. He doesn't lie, cheat or steal, and helps people whenever he can.
When I was sick, he'd leave soup by my door after a long day of work. When I needed a friend, Mike was there for me as he is not only for his friends, but for strangers.
If David does turn out to be involved in hacking, Mike Kernell had nothing to do with it. Anyone who knows Kernell, knows he doesn't even email because he hates computers and is computer illiterate. That's the irony. Everyone who knows Mike is chuckling because he hates computers.
There are very few people I would vouch for, but Mike Kernell is one of them, and if it turns out his son did something wrong, Mike had nothing to do with it.
And I reiterate, as of this moment, NO ONE has contacted Mike or his son from law enforcement and as of now it is an Internet rumor.
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