A Tangled Web of Email at Justice Department

It seems that turn about is fair play -- even the watchers forget that they can be watched. 

Back in 2006, an article about Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said that the NSA may tap 'ordinary' Americans' e-mail. In summary, the government argues that it is fair to read other people's email to gather evidence.  Of course, many people may disagree.

Now the tables are turned. The House Judiciary Committee released emails (see below) from the Department of Justice, the home of the Attorney General.  The Wall Street Journal titled their entry,  A Tangled Web of Email at Justice Department.  There will be many more revelations in the coming weeks and months, but I am intrigued that even the DoJ is being caught by email.

It seems that even the people who use email against other people, forget the risk.  They also leave a nice trail of evidence for  investigators.  I think that many of these people are legal experts.  What hope do we have for warning the typical employee at a typical company?  Can we possibly expect employees to censor themselves after an hour of training?  I doubt it.  Email may be the thing that catches us all.

One blog, The Anonymous Liberal, tried to explain how the emails may cause the demise of the Attorney General.  For an un-political view, here is the text of some of the released emails:

Part I: Then-Gonzales Chief of Staff Kyle Sampson and Gonzales's Senior Counsel Monica Goodling discuss potential U.S. Attorney nominee Tim Griffin and possible problems with Senate confirmation.

Part II: Tim Griffin resume; discussion of New Mexico's then-U.S. Attorney David Iglesias, Sen. Pete Domenici

Part III: Sampson, former White House counsel Harriet Miers; emails discuss recommendations for which U.S. attorneys should be replaced, and contains "plan for replacing certain United States Attorneys

Part IV:  Sampson email details plan to ask "underperforming" U.S. attorneys to leave, recalls he "beat back" broader White House counsel plan for more sweeping changes

(Descriptions of email sets from the Wall Street Journal.)