[Peace-discuss] Diebold whistleblower fined

[Chuck Minne]

<http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/oped/ci_4794574>

A bad precedent for whistleblowers


CASES such as Stephen Heller make whistleblowers an endangered species.

The Van Nuys actor and temporary worker recently pleaded guilty to a  
computer crime, agreed to pay a $10,000 fine, and write an apology to  
Diebold and its Los Angeles attorneys, Jones Day, for making  
confidential Diebold legal memos public in 2004.

Heller had copied and released 500 pages of memos and other data  
indicating that Diebold violated state election laws by peddling in  
Alameda and other counties software that had not been tested or  
approved for use in elections. The Argus published some of the  
documents. Shortly thereafter, state election officials decertified  
Diebold touch-screen systems statewide.

Though critics of electronic voting consider Heller a brave  
whistleblower with the public's interest at heart, the Los Angeles  
District Attorney's Office announced an indictment on charges of  
unauthorized access to a computer, second-degree burglary and  
receiving stolen goods. Each charge could have resulted in his being  
sentenced to four years in prison.
  
Working as a word processor, he had heard a taped statement by a  
Jones Day attorney describing ways Diebold could get around state law  
and its $12 million contract with Alameda County.

Heller then did what many right-minded, concerned citizens would do.  
He went public with information indicating wrongdoing. Many consider  
that responsible conduct.






  

Before you call 9/11 conspiracy nuts crazy, explain what happened to 7 World Trade Center (WTC7) and how it was accomplished. (Never heard of WTC7 before, have you? – that’s not surprising, it’s the camel in the tent that everybody ignores.)
  



 
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