The governor of Missouri spoke at a press conference in Jefferson City.
The governor of Missouri changed his strategy and labeled the journalist a "hacker", threatening both a lawsuit and prosecution.
We wrote about the security flaw that exposed the Social Security numbers of teachers and other school employees in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on October 14. The problem was solved by notifying the state of the security flaw and keeping it secret until after it was fixed.
The newspaper's reporting was nothing more than a political vendetta and an attempt to embarrassing the state, according to the governor. The Republican governor said that his administration had notified the Cole County prosecutor of the matter, that the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Digital Forensic Unit would investigate all of those involved, and that state law allowed them to bring a civil suit to recover damages.
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We are grateful to the member of the media.
The Post-Dispatch reported today that a government spokesman was preparing a quote to thank the journalist.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's spokeswoman sent a proposed statement for a press release about the data vulnerability the newspaper uncovered.
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"We are grateful to the member of the media who brought this to the state's attention," said a proposed quote from Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven.
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The quote was not used by the Parson administration and DESE. The Office of Administration called the Post-Dispatch journalist ahacker the next day. The Missouri State Highway Patrol launched a criminal investigation into the Post-Dispatch after a news conference held by Governor Parson.
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At the news conference, the governor said that he would not let the crime against Missouri teachers go unanswered. They will not be a pawn in the news outlet's political vendetta. We are going to hold this individual accountable and we are also going to hold those who aided them accountable.
The email was obtained by the Post-Dispatch. The plan to thank the journalist was apparently scrapped by 1:18 pm on October 13 when McGowin emaild two people in the governor's office to say Vandeven wanted her to meet with them. McGowin sent a news release at 3:46 pm that referred to the journalist as an individual. A revision was sent by Shiflett at 4:20 pm.
