Part II - BREAKING: Obama's passport data compromised 3 times

Just copying Scoopter's diary: in order to start a new one:

Just heard this on the intro to Countdown..   The Dept. of Justice has launched an investigation into the compromising of Sen. Obama's passport data file by two contract employees at the State Department.  A third has been disciplined for accessing the information without necessity.

When more information comes in MSNBC will be breaking away from Keith for the news conference.

I will keep this diary updated with relevant information as it becomes available.  Still no link available at MSNBC or the NY Times websites, and nothing found on Google News yet either.

Update #1 - 8:15PM EDT: Keith is reporting that the breach took place in Jan. 2008.  The contract employees were employed by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, which is not a high-profile division at the State Department.

Update #2 - 8:25PM EDT: Hate to use Drudge as a source, but it's the only place that has more than just a banner.  Nothing on Obama's campaign website, CNN.com, or FOXnews.com at all, not even a banner.

Update #3 - 8:32PM EDT: Keith is citing a release from State that the breach occurred on three different occassions, on 9 January, 21 February and 14 March.  They also are saying there is no political motivation behind this breach, it was "...simply curiosity..."

Update #4 - 8:36PM EDT: Boston.com has the story now (h/t Liberate for the link that wasn't Drudge or WashTimes!)

"This is an outrageous breach of security and privacy, even from an Administration that has shown little regard for either over the last eight years. Our government’s duty is to protect the private information of the American people, not use it for political purposes. This is a serious matter that merits a complete investigation, and we demand to know who looked at Senator Obama’s passport file, for what purpose, and why it took so long for them to reveal this security breach," Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement.

Update #5 - 8:50PM EDT: State Department officials will be holding a conference call at 9PM in order to discuss this issue and what actions need to be taken.

Update #6 - 8:55PM: MSNBC now has the story up.  Also I think we need a second thread for this one.  We're slower than molasses here!

Update #7 - 9:16PM [EDT]  State Dept conference call per Andrea Mitchell.  State Dept still re-iterating that this is nothing more than low level employees that were simply imprudent "curious".  No explanation of why no one was notified earlier.

Update #8 - 9:21PM [EDT]  Conference call.  State Dept admits that they FAILED.  Well, duh.

Update #9 - 10:03PM [EDT]Senior Mgmt at State only just learned of this situation TODAY.  Condi didn't find out about it until someone at State heard it from a reporter and then told her.  Ya just can't make this stuff up.

And Andrea Mitchell doesn't think this is just a "coincidence."

I'll try to keep it updated, but I make no promises.  My satellite connection is going up and down due to weather.  :o)