Greg Abbott Exposes Millions of Texans’ Social Security Numbers

[sonias]

Last edited Fri Apr 27, 2012, 12:50 AM - Edit history (1)

Lone Star Project 4/26/12

Greg Abbott Exposes Millions of Texans’ Social Security Numbers

AG releases file containing over 13 million Texas SS numbers.
Misuse avoided only by vigilance of opposing counsel.

A legal brief filed by opponents of the Texas Voter Photo ID law reveals that Attorney General Greg Abbott exposed millions of Texas voters’ full Social Security numbers to possible theft and abuse.

The brief, filed Monday, April 23, 2012 states:

“… after vigorously fighting the production of data containing full Social Security numbers, Texas mistakenly produced to Intervenors data from the VR [voter registration] data base that contained full Social Security numbers.” ( Defendant-Intervenors’ Motion for Clarification of the Trial Schedule, 4/23/12, page seven.)

Texas voters escaped public release of their Social Security numbers only because of the vigilance of conscientious lawyers working against the Voter Photo ID bill. Rather than attach the files to documents circulated to other attorneys or expose them to access by the general public, opposing counsel immediately notified the AG’s office of the bungled release of private data. Abbott then, at the expense of Texas taxpayers, sent a courier to both New York and Washington, DC to retrieve the files. As the brief details:

What a moroon that Abbott! He and the Texas Comptroller Susan Combs need to get a long refresher course in identity theft and security.

[sonias]

1. Texas AG releases voters' Social Security numbers in mix-up

Houston Chronicle 4/25/12

Texas AG releases voters' Social Security numbers in mix-up

AUSTIN — State Attorney General Greg Abbott's office inadvertently gave the Social Security numbers of millions of Texas voters to opposing lawyers in the voter ID case but said on Wednesday the information never was exposed publicly.

The slip occurred when Texas was ordered to give lawyers challenging the voter ID law a voter database for analysis.

Abbott's office mistakenly believed the database maintained by the Secretary of State's office included only the last four digits of voters' Social Security numbers, said First Assistant Attorney General Daniel Hodge.

The attorney general's office gave the records to the opposing lawyers on password-protected, encrypted disks, Hodge said.

The state then found out from an opposing lawyer that a number of the names in the database included full Social Security numbers. The mistake was discovered by an analyst who opened the disk and saw the information, Hodge said.

Well I would say Abbott is incompetent to say the least. And if there are any new identity theft voters - we know who to blame. Abbott left the house totally unlocked.

[ashling]

3. No one was at risk?-au contraire

"At no time were these Social Security numbers exposed to the public," Hodge said. "No one was ever at risk."

Every Texan has been at risk since the first day this bumbling idiot became AG.

[sonias]

5. Both he and the Comptroller

She left lots of SS numbers on an unsecured server for a whole year.

Yep they are crazy kind of stupid.

[ashling]

7. I only had a few seconds to post

a comprehensive list could get pretty long

[LASlibinSC]

2. WTF?

And this is to prevent voter fraud? Face it these Rep. led legislatures will do anything to drive down turnout. It appears this will futher delay a challenge. Is this correct?

[sonias]

4. We hope so - delay any implementation that is

Even if the courts were to rule in favor of the Tx repukes, the clerks and election officials need a minimum of 90 days to make the changes, advise the voters, and train election workers.

Every week that this case gets drawn out means it's less likely this will be in place this fall.

And that's good for voters!

[hobbit709]

6. Juanita's comments on this.

http://juanitajean.com/2012/04/27/if-texas-attorney-general-greg-abott-was-any-dumber-wed-have-to-water-him-twice-a-week/

[sonias]

9. One of the comments on Juanita Jean's blog

If dumb was a crime, he’d be doing life without parole. But this will probably have no effect on his career.

Great post!

[white cloud]

8. Wow

Unbelievable moron elect morons....
To many morons for this state.