Verizon Employees Hacked Barack Obama's Cell Phone Records

Verizon employees without Verizon's authorization viewed  Barack Obama's personal inactive cell phone account of a flip voice phone, not his BlackBerry. The employees were placed on leave for investigation and may face disciplinary action.

Verizon Wireless President and CEO Lowell McAdam made the following statement:

"This week we learned that a number of Verizon Wireless employees have, without authorization, accessed and viewed President-Elect Barack Obama's personal cell phone account. The account has been inactive for several months. The device on the account was a simple voice flip-phone, not a BlackBerry or other smartphone designed for e-mail or other data services.

"All employees who have accessed the account - whether authorized or not - have been put on immediate leave, with pay. As the circumstances of each individual employee's access to the account are determined, the company will take appropriate actions. Employees with legitimate business needs for access will be returned to their positions, while employees who have accessed the account improperly and without legitimate business justification will face appropriate disciplinary action.

"We apologize to President-Elect Obama and will work to keep the trust our customers place in us every day."