Well, folks, it looks like we have some breaking news on this one this evening. There’s so much to look at that it warrants a separate post. Let’s get started:

First, we go to excerpts of The Columbus Dispatch:

“Joe the Plumber” has contacted a lawyer, but is uncertain if he will pull the trigger on lawsuits over government workers rummaging through his records on state computer systems. 

“When I first found out, I was pretty angry and I still am,” Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher said today in Columbus during his first campaign appearance on behalf of Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

The Toledo-area man, who was elevated to fame after he challenged Democrat Barack Obama over his tax policies during a street-side chat, formally endorsed McCain at The Flag Lady’s Flag Store in Beechwold.

Authorities in Toledo and Cleveland confirmed today that workers accessed Wurzelbacher’s driving record and vehicle information through state computer systems in checks uncovered by The Dispatch.

“It bothers me greatly,” Wurzelbacher said as he joined former Republican Congressman Rob Portman and small-business owners on a bus tour to back McCain and attack Obama’s tax policies.

“I’d like to see justice done. That’s just for other people who dare ask their elected officials a question. They shouldn’t have to go through the scrutiny that I’ve gone through,” he said.

Further, it appears that the director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Hellen Jones-Kelly — a “maximum individual” contributor to Sen. Obama’s campaign — may not take the fall on this one; that would probably be Julie McConnell (WNWO via Michelle Maulkin):

Toledo Police have confirmed that a TPD records clerk is accused of performing an illegal search of information related to ‘Joe the Plumber.’

Julie McConnell, has been charged with Gross Misconduct for allegedly making an improper inquiry into a state database in search of information pertaining to Samuel Wurzelbacher on Oct. 16.

Wurzelbacher came under the spotlight after being spoken about during the final presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain.

The inquiry into Wurzelbacher’s record is a violation of department and state policy governing the use of the Law Enforcement Automated Data System. The clerk is under fire for making the inquiry for a non-law enforcement purpose.

McConnell was hired by the Toledo Police Department in April 1995 and assigned to the Investigative Services Bureau.

…

Maggie Thurber wants to know: Who was McConnell digging up the information for?

Well, I can certainly tell you it wasn’t for back payments on child support:

Wuzelbacher said he has custody of his 13-year-old son and neither pays or receives child support, leaving him puzzled why he would be run through such a check.

Oops! I think it’s time for the talking points to get out quick! This is going to be a very, very bad situation if not handled properly by the Democrats:

Ohio Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland wrote Democrat Gov. Ted Strickland today, saying he was disturbed by Jones-Kelley’s actions and statements. He asked for records and an explanation.

“Ohioans are once again questioning the stewardship of their information,” Harris wrote. He also said he did not share Strickland’s confidence that there were no political overtones to the Wurzelbacher check.

Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey attributed the Republicans’ actions to “baseless political attacks” amid a campaign in which McCain trails.

However, the governor is willing to work with GOP lawmakers to address concerns over access to and the security of sensitive information the state holds on individuals, Dailey said.

Yeah, I’ll bet the Governor is; after all, “We the People” have some confidence issues with authorities that need to be rectified forthwith:

Calling her reason for checking on Wurzelbacher meritless, State Rep. William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, today called on Strickland to place Jones-Kelley on leave until the investigation is complete.

“No Ohioan should be subject to a ‘witch hunt’ on the whim of a public official,” said Batchelder . He said that by Jones-Kelley’s standard, “the mere appearance of one’s name in the newspaper would warrant ‘taking a look.’ ”

“I believe that Ohioans need to be reassured that their personal information is safe from frivolous and perhaps politically motivated investigation,” he wrote.

And all this with only 8 days to go until V-Day.

-Phil

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Update:

 

 

 

Now Ms. Jones-Kelley acknowledges she didn’t tell the whole truth:

A state agency has revealed that its checks of computer systems for potential information on “Joe the Plumber” were more extensive than it first acknowledged.

Helen Jones-Kelley, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, disclosed today that computer inquiries on Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher were not restricted to a child-support system.

The agency also checked Wurzelbacher in its computer systems to determine whether he was receiving welfare assistance or owed unemployment compensation taxes, she wrote.

Jones-Kelley made the revelations in a letter to Ohio Senate President Bill M. Harris, R-Ashland, who demanded answers on why state officials checked out Wurzelbacher.

Harris called the multiple records checks “questionable” and said he awaits more answers. “It’s kind of like Big Brother is looking in your pocket,” he said.