211:
these individuals "are sufficient to chill or silence a person of ordinary firmness from future First
Amendment activities." Judicial Watch filed the federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Wurzelbacher, alleging that "officials of the State of Ohio violated Mr. Wurzelbacher's constitutional rights by illegally accessing confidential information from its official databases." The
101:'s order to access Ohio government databases concerning Wurzelbacher was illegal; they concluded on November 20, 2008, that the searches breached protocol but found there was no evidence to prove they were part of a political agenda or linked with a political group or campaign. The Attorney General's office of Ohio conducted the investigation.
87:
In Ohio, state and local officials are investigating whether the accessing was illegal. Wurzelbacher responded on Fox News saying that, "It upsets me greatly, to be honest with you." John McCain responded later that day calling the actions, "remarkable." The Obama campaign responded that the access
65:
reported that, "A former contractor for the Ohio
Association of Chiefs of Police has been charged with rummaging through state computers to retrieve information about 'Joe the Plumber.'" The State Highway Patrol has stated that, "this individual has also used a law-enforcement computer network on
215:
reports that Jones-Kelley must respond to the lawsuit within 20 days. Jones-Kelley's attorney, H. Ritchey
Hollenbaugh, has declined to comment on the lawsuit and has stated that he is "studying it." On May 7, 2009, the Associated Press reported that Jones-Kelly, "denies that she authorized state
210:
filed a lawsuit charging that Jones-Kelley (along with employees Fred
Williams and Doug Thompson) improperly searched "confidential state databases" in an attempt to retaliate against Joe Wurzelbacher's criticism of then-presidential candidate Barack Obama. The lawsuit states that the actions of
142:
On
November 20, 2008, Inspector General Charles reported that the reasons that Helen Jones-Kelley provided for the checks on Wurzelbacher "were not credible and they included contradictions, ambiguity, and inconsistencies." Charles found that Jones-Kelley "improperly authorized searches of state
116:
Given our understanding that Mr. Wurzelbacher had publicly indicated that he had the means to purchase a substantial business enterprise, ODJFS, consistent with past departmental practice, checked confidential databases to make sure that if Mr. Wurzelbacher did owe child support, or unemployment
152:
from her position as director of ODJFS. Along with her resignation, Jones-Kelley issued a statement. "This decision comes after a time of pause, in which I realize that I continue to be used as a political postscript, providing a distraction from urgent state priorities." Fred
Williams and Doug
219:
On
November 15, 2009, the Associated Press reported that "Ohio taxpayers are paying the bill for the legal defense of three former state employees sued by "Joe the Plumber," who claims they illegally accessed his personal information leading up to last fall's presidential election."
96:
During the last few weeks of the 2008 US Presidential election campaign, ODJFS employees became embroiled in a controversy over searches of Joe
Wurzelbacher's government records. State and local officials conducted an investigation into whether ODJFS Director
1039:
125:
reported on
November 14, 2008, that "In response to a public-records request, the state agency said yesterday that it had no records involving previous checks of the type that Director Helen Jones-Kelley authorized on 'Joe the Plumber.'"
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searches about the man known as "Joe the
Plumber" after he questioned Barack Obama on the 2008 campaign trail." In addition, she "acknowledged donating $ 2,500 to the Obama campaign but denied providing additional help."
193:
by a vote of 30 to 2. On January 6, 2009, Governor Ted Strickland signed House Bill 648, creating civil and criminal penalties for violations of rules concerning access to personal information on state databases.
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for their review and consideration. After reviewing the report, Strickland suspended Jones-Kelley for a month without pay, but rejected requests for her to be terminated. On December 17, 2008, Jones-Kelley
1049:
108:, R-Medina, called for Jones-Kelley to explain her agency's actions in reviewing individuals who have been the subject of news stories. In a written response to a letter from Ohio Senate President
153:
Thompson, members of Jones-Kelley's staff, who had both been suspended after being implicated in the ODJFS computer records search, left their positions due to resignation and removal. Governor
185:
sponsored House Bill 648 that mandates "the firing of any unclassified state employee who improperly accesses confidential personal information". On December 10, 2008, the bill passed the
662:
134:, both previous directors of ODJFS, have responded to Jones-Kelley's searches and stated that they did not conduct searches due to an individual's status being raised to "celebrity."
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databases for information on Samuel Joseph — 'Joe the Plumber' — Wurzelbacher." Charles has provided the report to the prosecutor's office of
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compensation taxes, or was receiving public assistance, appropriate action was being taken. The result of those checks have never been publicly shared.
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reported on October 25, 2008, that "information on Wurzelbacher's driver's license or his sports utility vehicle was pulled from the
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112:, Jones-Kelly defended her decision to approve of the search on Wurzelbacher after the third presidential debate:
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31:'s government records after he came to national attention as "Joe the Plumber." The matter led to substantial
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On August 4, 2010, the U.S District Court in Columbus dismissed the lawsuit on the grounds that the
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database three times," multiple state databases have been used to get information on Wurzelbacher.
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stated that the governor "values Helen Jones-Kelley's years of public service as a dedicated
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27:(ODJFS) employees, and Ohio officials, became embroiled in a controversy over searches of
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had nothing to do with the Obama campaign and that it should be fully investigated.
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40:
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376:"Former police association contractor charged with snooping on 'Joe the Plumber'"
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Oct. 16, 2008 to access personal information about Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher."
32:
622:"'Joe' records check defended by family services director Helen Jones-Kelley"
744:"State IG: Jones-Kelley acted improperly on 'Joe the Plumber', fundraising"
467:"Report: Government Computers Used to Get Information on 'Joe the Plumber'"
984:"Judicial Watch Files Civil Rights Lawsuit on Behalf of "Joe the Plumber""
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was chosen by Governor Strickland to replace her as director of ODJFS.
35:
attention during the presidential campaign, a new law being signed in
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didn't amount to a constitutional violation to the right to privacy.
149:
713:"Inspector general says Joe the Plumber's files searched improperly"
165:
for the most vulnerable among us." Upon Jones-Kelley's resignation,
43:
lawsuit which was dismissed on August 4, 2010, on grounds that the
988:
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by a vote of 69 to 26. On December 17, 2008, the bill passed the
36:
542:"IG Report: 'Joe The Plumber's' Files Were Searched Improperly"
1071:"Former Ohio taxpayers footing bill in 'Joe the Plumber' case"
834:"Franklin County director to head state human services agency"
862:"Worker says 'Joe the Plumber' cover-up was forced upon her"
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17:
Controversial Ohio database searches of Joe Wurzelbacher
594:"Lawmakers Question 'Joe The Plumber' Background Check"
339:
337:
242:
240:
616:
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775:"Report: Records search on Joe the Plumber improper"
653:"No state records show database checks before 'Joe'"
285:. Mansfield News Journal. 2008-11-09. Archived from
47:
did not amount to a constitutional violation of the
279:"Scandal cuts short Ohio governor's election party"
104:At the start of the investigation, Ohio State Rep.
1015:"Lawsuit filed in `Joe the Plumber' records probe"
1040:"Ex-official: Charges by 'Joe the Plumber' false"
809:"Ohio official in 'Joe the Plumber' flap resigns"
684:"Jones-Kelley regrets allowing database searches"
345:"'Joe the Plumber' sues 3 former state officials"
248:"'Joe the Plumber' loses suit over file-snooping"
55:Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police contractor
1077:. Associated Press. 2009-12-15. Archived from
1017:. Associated Press. 2009-03-05. Archived from
953:"'Joe the Plumber' sues 3 in database inquiry"
8:
891:"House passes "Joe the Plumber" legislation"
521:"State probes Joe the Plumber record search"
177:In response to the improper records search,
311:"'Joe the Plumber' bill OK'd by Strickland"
1106:Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
25:Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
19:occurred during the last few weeks of the
803:
801:
922:"Senate Approves "Joe the Plumber" bill"
407:"3 searches of 'Joe's' BMV files probed"
1121:2008 controversies in the United States
236:
523:. Port Clinton News Herald. 2008-10-26
70:Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles searches
7:
1126:United States election controversies
596:. WHIOTV. 2008-10-28. Archived from
569:"Joe the Plumber's records hacked"
14:
860:Catherine Candisky (2008-12-05).
1111:Privacy law in the United States
934:from the original on 2009-01-24
903:from the original on 2009-01-24
787:from the original on 2011-05-22
694:from the original on 2011-05-24
575:from the original on 2012-03-23
571:. Cincinnati News. 2008-10-27.
496:"Who used secret files on Joe?"
448:from the original on 2008-11-18
260:from the original on 2010-08-18
138:Ohio Inspector General's report
436:"Database plumbed about 'Joe'"
1:
187:Ohio House of Representatives
82:Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
21:2008 US Presidential election
1048:. 2009-05-07. Archived from
992:. 2009-03-05. Archived from
961:. 2009-03-06. Archived from
752:. 2008-11-20. Archived from
721:. 2008-11-20. Archived from
661:. 2008-11-14. Archived from
630:. 2008-10-30. Archived from
473:. 2008-10-25. Archived from
413:. 2008-10-25. Archived from
384:. 2009-10-14. Archived from
353:. 2009-03-05. Archived from
319:. 2009-01-06. Archived from
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181:Ohio state representative
59:On October 14, 2009, the
202:On March 5, 2009, in a
92:ODJFS database searches
198:Judicial Watch lawsuit
137:
119:
1045:The Columbus Dispatch
839:The Columbus Dispatch
718:The Columbus Dispatch
411:The Columbus Dispatch
381:The Columbus Dispatch
350:The Columbus Dispatch
145:Franklin County, Ohio
114:
77:The Columbus Dispatch
688:Springfield News-Sun
500:McClatchy Newspapers
441:The Washington Times
253:The Washington Times
204:U.S. District Court
388:on January 2, 2013
289:on January 7, 2009
167:Douglas E. Lumpkin
106:William Batchelder
99:Helen Jones-Kelley
1021:on March 10, 2009
996:on March 10, 2009
927:Dayton Daily News
896:Dayton Daily News
866:Columbus Dispatch
658:Columbus Dispatch
225:privacy violation
123:Columbus Dispatch
62:Columbus Dispatch
45:privacy violation
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49:right to privacy
39:, and a federal
29:Joe Wurzelbacher
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1116:2008 in Ohio
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41:civil rights
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191:Ohio Senate
110:Bill Harris
1100:Categories
1085:2009-12-19
1056:2009-09-30
1025:2009-03-09
1000:2009-03-09
969:2009-03-09
938:2008-12-18
907:2008-12-10
876:2008-12-05
846:2008-12-19
819:2008-12-18
791:2008-11-20
760:2008-11-20
729:2008-11-20
698:2008-12-10
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392:2009-12-19
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327:2009-01-07
293:2008-11-13
264:2010-08-15
231:References
179:Republican
33:news media
128:Tom Hayes
932:Archived
901:Archived
785:Archived
692:Archived
573:Archived
547:NBC News
471:Fox News
446:Archived
258:Archived
163:advocate
150:resigned
74:Since
989:MSNBC
130:and
121:The
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