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{{short description|Email hack}}
The '''Sarah Palin email hack''' was an illegal unauthorized access to the [[Yahoo!]] email account of [[United States presidential election, 2008|2008]] U.S. [[Vice President of the United States|vice presidential]] candidate [[Sarah Palin]]. This access is being prosecuted as a [[felony]], which if proven in court is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.<ref name="sgun">[http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/1008081palin1.html Palin Hacker Indicted]</ref><ref>[http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/oct/08/arrest-made-palin-hacking-case/ UT student David Kernell pleads not guilty in Palin e-mail hacking]</ref>
[[File:David Kernell mug shot.jpg|thumb|right|David Kernell]]
The '''Sarah Palin email hack''' occurred on September 16, 2008, during the [[2008 United States presidential election]] campaign when [[Vice President of the United States|vice presidential]] candidate [[Sarah Palin]]'s personal [[Yahoo!]] [[email account]] was subjected to unauthorized access. The [[hacker (computer security)|hacker]], David Kernell, obtained access to Palin's account by looking up biographical details, such as her high school and birthdate, and using [[Yahoo!|Yahoo!'s]] account recovery for forgotten passwords.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gehringer|first=Edward|title=Personal Vs. Professional E Mail: The Palin Case|journal=2009 Annual Conference & Exposition}}</ref> Kernell then posted several pages of Palin's email on [[4chan]]'s /b/ board. Kernell, who at the time of the offense was a 20-year-old college student, was the son of longtime [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[Tennessee House of Representatives|state representative]] [[Mike Kernell]] of [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]].

Kernell was charged in October 2008 in federal court. After he was led into the court in [[leg iron]]s and [[handcuffs]], the judge released him on his own recognizance, pending trial.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lakin |first=Matt |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/oct/08/arrest-made-palin-hacking-case/ |title=UT student David Kernell pleads not guilty in Palin e-mail hacking |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=October 8, 2008 |access-date=September 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crn.com/security/210602693|author=Michele Masterson|title=Memphis Democrat Rep. Confirms Son Is Subject Of Speculation In Connection With Palin Hack|date=September 19, 2008|publisher=CRN.com|access-date=September 12, 2010}}</ref> The incident was ultimately prosecuted in a U.S. federal court as four [[felony]] crimes punishable by up to 50 years in federal prison.<ref name="ap-2010-04-20"/><ref name="telegraph">{{cite news | author = Johnson, Bobbie | title = Sarah Palin vs the hacker | work = The Sunday Telegraph (UK)| place = London | date = May 27, 2010|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/sarah-palin/7750050/Sarah-Palin-vs-the-hacker.html | access-date =August 7, 2012}}</ref> The charges were three felonies: [[identity theft]], wire fraud, and anticipatory obstruction of justice; and one optional as felony or misdemeanor: intentionally accessing an account without authorization. Kernell pleaded not guilty to all counts.

A jury trial, featuring testimony of Sarah and [[Bristol Palin]], as well as of 4chan founder [[Christopher Poole]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://i.cdn.turner.com/dr/teg/tsg/release/sites/default/files/assets/poole-testimony.pdf|title=Court testimony by 4chan's founder and former administrator 'moot'|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820204109/http://i.cdn.turner.com/dr/teg/tsg/release/sites/default/files/assets/poole-testimony.pdf|archive-date=2010-08-20}}</ref> began on April 20, 2010.<ref name="ap-2010-04-20">{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/04/20/palin-set-stand-tenn-hacking-trial/ |title=Palin set to take stand in Tenn. hacking trial |agency=Associated Press |author=AP staff reporter |publisher=FOX News |date=April 7, 2010 |access-date=September 12, 2010}}</ref> The jury found Kernell guilty on two counts: the felony of anticipatory obstruction of justice and the misdemeanor of unauthorized access to a computer.<ref name="convicted">{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/man-convicted-of-palin-email-hacking-20100501-tzoi.html|title=Man convicted of Palin email hacking|last=Poovy|first=Bill|date=May 1, 2010|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="knoxnews 2">{{cite news|url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/apr/30/judge-presents-dynamite-charge-stuck-palin-e-mail-/|title=Jury convicts Palin e-mail intruder on two counts; mistrial declared on ID theft|author=Balloch, Jim|date=April 30, 2010|newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel}}</ref> On her [[Facebook]] page, Sarah Palin stated that she and her family were thankful the jury had rendered a just verdict.<ref name="Philay winfacebook">{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/sarah-palin/the-hacker-case-verdict/384534143434|author=Palin, Sarah|title=The Hacker Case Verdict|publisher=Facebook|date=April 30, 2010}}</ref>

Kernell was sentenced on November 12, 2010, to one year plus a day in federal custody,<ref name="sentence2"/> followed by three years of supervised release.<ref name="sentence2">{{cite news | title = Prison or halfway house for Palin e-mail hacker | date = November 12, 2010 | last1 = Mungin | first1 = Lateef | agency = [[CNN]] | url = http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/11/12/tennessee.palin.hacking.case/ | access-date = November 10, 2010}}</ref> The sentencing judge recommended that the custody be served in a [[halfway house]],<ref name="sentence2"/> but the [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]] sent him instead to a minimum security prison.<ref name="bop"/><ref name="prison"/> He was released on November 23, 2011.<ref>[https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/ Register No. 32341-074], ''[[Federal Bureau of Prisons]]''. Retrieved February 10, 2018.</ref> In January 2012, the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit]] found Kernell's awareness of a possible future FBI investigation was enough to uphold a conviction on obstruction of justice.<ref>{{cite news | title = Sarah Palin email hacker loses appeal | date = January 30, 2012 | last1 = Baynes | first1 = Terry | work = [[Reuters]] | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palin-hacking-idUSTRE80T1UQ20120130 | access-date = August 7, 2012}}</ref>

== Incident ==
== Incident ==
Shortly after midnight on September 16, 2008,<ref name="telegraph"/> the private [[Yahoo! Mail]] account of [[Sarah Palin]] was cracked by a [[4chan]] user.<ref name="telegraph"/> The hacker, known as "Rubico", claimed he had read Palin's personal e-mails because he was looking for something that "would derail her campaign."<ref name="telegraph"/><ref name="derail">{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/19/hacker-wanted-to-derail-palin/|title=Hacker wanted to 'derail' Palin|work=The Washington Times|date=September 19, 2008| author=Rowland, Kara|access-date=September 23, 2008}}</ref>
On September 17, 2008, the private [[Yahoo! Mail]] account of [[Sarah Palin]], [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Vice President of the United States|vice presidential]] candidate in the [[United States presidential election, 2008|2008 United States presidential election]], was hacked by a [[4chan]] user.<ref name=PalinAP>{{cite web|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iem-vu_mlRjRYfqkscEkw2ciRm7wD938N1JO0 |title=Hackers claim break-in to Palin's e-mail account|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|author=Ted Bridis|date=2008-09-17|accessdate=2008-09-17}}</ref> The hacker known as "Rubico" at the time targeted Palin because he wanted to "derail her campaign."<ref name="derail">{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/19/hacker-wanted-to-derail-palin/|title=Hacker wanted to 'derail' Palin|work=The Washingon Times|date=2008-09-19| author=Rowland, Kara|accessdate=2008-09-23}}</ref>After reading through all of Palin's email the Rubico wrote "There was nothing there, nothing incriminating — all I saw was personal stuff, some clerical stuff from when she was governor," <ref name="derail" /> Rubico wrote that he used the [[Sarah Palin]] Wikipedia article to find out Palin's exact birthday in "15 seconds", one of the standard security questions used by Yahoo. <ref name="nypost">[[New York Post]] [http://www.nypost.com/seven/09192008/news/politics/dem_pols_son_was_hacker_129793.htm DEM POL'S SON WAS 'HACKER']</ref> The hacker posted the account's password on /b/ a channel of [[4chan]], and [[screenshot]]s from within the account to [[Wikileaks]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theridiculant.metro.co.uk/2008/09/sarah-palins-em.html |title=Sarah Palin's email gets hacked|publisher=''[[Metro (Associated Metro Limited)|Metro]]''|author=Tom Phillips|date=2008-09-17|accessdate=2008-09-17}}</ref> A /b/ user then logged in and changed the password, posting a screenshot of his sending an email to a friend of Palin's informing her of the new password on the /b/ thread. However, he forgot to blank out the password in the screenshot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1842097,00.html |title=Sarah Palin's E-mail Hacked|publisher=''[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]''|author=M. J. Stephey|date=2008-09-17|accessdate=2008-09-17}}</ref> A multitude of /b/ users attempted to log in with the new password, the account was automatically locked out by Yahoo!. The incident was criticized by some /b/ users, one of whom complained that "seriously, /b/. We could have changed history and failed, epically."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/09/4chans-half-hac.html |title=4Chan's half-hack of Palin's email goes awry|publisher=''[[The Los Angeles Times]]''|author=David Sarno|date=2008-09-17|accessdate=2008-09-17}}</ref> The hacker admitted he was worried about being caught, writing "Yes I was behind a proxy, only one, if this shit ever got to the FBI I was fucked, I panicked, I still wanted the stuff out there . . . so I posted the [information] . . . and then promptly deleted everything, and unplugged my internet and just sat there in a comatose state." <ref name="nypost" /> The hacker left behind traces of his activity, his IP address was logged at CTunnel, the single proxy he used, he also left his email address rubico10@yahoo.com when he posted at 4chan. Further the attacker revealed the original web address used by the proxy<ref name="BBC">BBC [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7631225.stm Student suspect in Palin hacking]</ref> by leaving this information in the screenshot which according to experts can also help the investigation<ref name=BBC />. 4chan is not archived, posts are only retained for a short time but with the great interest surrounding the posts of Rubico, many, including wired.com and others archived the original posts. The email address left behind was then connected to David Kernell through various social networking profiles where it was used<ref name="LA Times">Los Angeles Times [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/09/supposed-palin.html Kid in Palin hack fuss gets a digital hit-and-run]</ref>, though no official investigation took place at this early time.

After reading through Palin's emails, Rubico wrote, "There was nothing there, nothing incriminating — all I saw was personal stuff, some clerical stuff from when she was governor."<ref name="telegraph"/><ref name="derail" /> Rubico wrote that he used the Sarah Palin [[Wikipedia]] article to find Palin's birth date (one of the standard [[Knowledge-based authentication|security questions]] used by Yahoo!<ref name="nypost">{{cite news|newspaper=New York Post|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/09192008/news/politics/dem_pols_son_was_hacker_129793.htm|title=Dem Pol's Son Was 'Hacker': I Spied On Palin' Boast Pops Up On 'Net|author=Carl Campanile|date=September 19, 2008|access-date=September 12, 2010}}</ref>) in "15 seconds." The hacker posted the account's password on [[/b/]], an image board on [[4chan]], and [[screenshot]]s from within the account to [[WikiLeaks]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://theridiculant.metro.co.uk/2008/09/sarah-palins-em.html |title=Sarah Palin's email gets hacked|newspaper=[[Metro (Associated Metro Limited)|Metro]]|author=Tom Phillips|date=September 17, 2008|access-date=September 17, 2008}}</ref>
A /b/ user then logged in and changed the password, posting a screenshot of his sending an email to a friend of Palin's informing her of the new password on the /b/ thread. This man was criticized heavily by the /b/ community, for being a "[[Knight-errant|white knight]]". However, he did not blank out the password in the screenshot.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1842097,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919092620/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1842097,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 19, 2008 |title=Sarah Palin's E-mail Hacked|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]|author=M. J. Stephey|date=September 17, 2008|access-date=September 17, 2008}}</ref> A multitude of /b/ users then attempted to log in with the new password, and the account was automatically locked out by Yahoo!. The incident was criticized by some /b/ users, one of whom complained that "seriously, /b/. We could have changed history and failed, epically."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/09/4chans-half-hac.html |title=4Chan's half-hack of Palin's email goes awry|newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|author=David Sarno|date=September 17, 2008|access-date=September 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514200839/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/09/4chans-half-hac.html|archive-date=May 14, 2011}}</ref> The hacker admitted he was worried about being caught, writing "Yes I was behind a proxy, only one, if this sh*t ever got to the FBI I was f**ked, I panicked, I still wanted the stuff out there ... so I posted the [information] ... and then promptly deleted everything, and unplugged my internet and just sat there in a comatose state."<ref name="nypost" />

The hacker left behind traces of his activity. His IP address was logged at the [[Proxy server|proxy]] he used, CTunnel.com, and he also left his email address <code><nowiki>rubico10@yahoo.com</nowiki></code> when he posted at 4chan. Furthermore, the attacker revealed the original web address used by the proxy<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7631225.stm|title=Student suspect in Palin hacking|work=BBC News|date=September 23, 2008|access-date=September 12, 2010}}</ref> by leaving this information in the screenshot which according to experts can also help the investigation.<ref name=BBC /> 4chan's /b/ board is not archived, and posts are only retained for a short time. However, with the great interest surrounding the posts of Rubico, many, including the magazine [[Wired (magazine)|''Wired'']], archived the original posts.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-11-13|title=Palin hacker gets one year|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/300185|access-date=2020-10-23|website=www.digitaljournal.com}}</ref> The email address left behind was then connected to David Kernell through various social networking profiles where it was used,<ref name="LA Times">{{cite news| newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-sep-24-et-webscout24-story.html |title=A hit-and-run at digital speed |author=Sarno, David|date=September 24, 2008|access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> though no official investigation took place at this time.


==Campaign response==
==Campaign response==


[[John McCain]]'s campaign condemned the incident saying it was a "shocking invasion of the governor's privacy and a violation of law".<ref name="BBC">BBC [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7631225.stm Student suspect in Palin hacking]</ref> [[Barack Obama]] spokesman [[Bill Burton]] called the hacking "outrageous".<ref name=nypost />
[[John McCain]]'s campaign condemned the incident, saying it was a "shocking invasion of the governor's privacy and a violation of law".<ref name="BBC"/> [[Barack Obama]]'s spokesman [[Bill Burton (political consultant)|Bill Burton]] called the hacking "outrageous".<ref name=nypost />


== Federal investigation ==
== Federal investigation ==
The [[FBI]] and [[Secret Service]] began investigating the incident and on September 20, it was revealed that they were questioning David Kernell, a 20-year-old economics student at the [[University of Tennessee]] and the son of [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[Tennessee House of Representatives|Tennessee State Representative]] [[Mike Kernell]] from Memphis.<ref name="bosak">{{cite web|url=http://www.newsfactor.com/news/Suspect-Nabbed-in-Palin-E-mail-Hack/story.xhtml?story_id=110003SJWA8K |title=Suspect Nabbed in Palin E-mail Hack|publisher=NewsFactor|author=Steve Bosak |date=2008-09-20|accessdate=2008-09-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/08/palin_email_hijack_indictment/ |title=Son of state lawmaker charged with Palin email hack |accessdate=2008-10-10 |last=Goodin |first=Dan |date=2008-10-08 |work=[[The Register]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/oct/09/jury-indicts-ut-student-accused-hacking-palins-e-m/ |title=Jury indicts UT student accused of hacking Palin's e-mail |accessdate=2008-10-10 |last=Lakin |first=Matt |date=2008-10-09 |work=Knoxville News Sentinel}}</ref><ref name="sgun">{{cite web |url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/1008081palin1.html |title=Palin Hacker Indicted |accessdate=2008-10-12 |work=The Smoking Gun}}</ref> The handle used by the hacker when making his post at 4chan pointed to him, although this evidence was inconclusive because of the frequent pranks pulled at that board.<ref name="ars_jury" /> The hacker's proxy service provided its logs, which pointed to Kernell's residence.<ref name="ars_jury">{{cite web | title = Grand jury investigates Palin e-mail hack; no charges yet | publisher = [[Ars Technica]] | date = 2008-09-24 | url = http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080924-grand-jury-investigates-palin-e-mail-hacker-no-charges-yet.html }}</ref><ref name="bosak" /> David Kernell is a self described "Obamacrat"; a supporter of Democratic Presidential candidate [[Barack Obama]], the President of the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://terryfrank.net/?p=3591 |title=Investigating David Kernell |accessdate=2008-10-10 |last=Frank |first=Terry |date=2008-09-18 |work=Frankly Speaking}}</ref>
The [[FBI]] and [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] began investigating the incident and on September 20, it was revealed that they were questioning David Kernell, a 20-year-old economics student at the [[University of Tennessee]] and the son of [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[Tennessee House of Representatives|Tennessee State Representative]] [[Mike Kernell]] from Memphis.<ref name="sgun">{{cite web |url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/1008081palin1.html |title=Palin Hacker Indicted |access-date=October 12, 2008 |work=The Smoking Gun}}</ref><ref name="bosak">{{cite web|url=http://www.newsfactor.com/news/Suspect-Nabbed-in-Palin-E-mail-Hack/story.xhtml?story_id=110003SJWA8K |title=Suspect Nabbed in Palin E-mail Hack|publisher=NewsFactor|author=Steve Bosak |date=September 20, 2008|access-date=September 21, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/08/palin_email_hijack_indictment/ |title=Son of state lawmaker charged with Palin email hack |access-date=October 10, 2008 |last=Goodin |first=Dan |date=October 8, 2008 |work=[[The Register]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/oct/09/jury-indicts-ut-student-accused-hacking-palins-e-m/ |title=Jury indicts UT student accused of hacking Palin's e-mail |access-date=October 10, 2008 |last=Lakin |first=Matt |date=October 9, 2008 |work=Knoxville News Sentinel}}</ref> The handle used by the hacker when making his post at 4chan pointed to him, although this evidence was inconclusive because of the frequent pranks pulled at that board.<ref name="ars_jury" /> The hacker's proxy service provided its logs, which pointed to Kernell's residence.<ref name="bosak" /><ref name="ars_jury">{{cite web | title = Grand jury investigates Palin e-mail hack; no charges yet | website = Ars Technica | date = September 24, 2008 | url = https://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080924-grand-jury-investigates-palin-e-mail-hacker-no-charges-yet.html }}</ref>


FBI agents served a federal search warrant at the Knoxville Tennessee residence of David Kernell. Kernell, according to witnesses, fled the scene when the FBI agents arrived.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wbir.com/news/breaking/story.aspx?storyid=64033&catid=29 |title=Update: FBI serves search warrant against UT student in Palin case |accessdate=2008-10-10 |last=Simmons |first=Becky |date=2008-09-22 |work=WBIR.com}}</ref> Agents spent 1.5 to 2 hours taking pictures of everything inside his apartment. Kernell's three roommates were also subpoenaed and expected to testify the following week in [[Chattanooga]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_FBI_Search_The_Apartment_Of_Palin_Hack_Primary_Suspect_24837.html |title=FBI Search The Apartment Of Palin Hack Primary Suspect |accessdate=2008-10-10 |last=Chisamera |first=Dee |date=2008-09-22 |work=eFluxMedia}}</ref> Kernell Sr. told ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' that he was aware that his son was a suspect, but he did not ask him anything about it over concerns that he may have to testify in court.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/007785.html |title=Palin Update: Tenn. Student Implicated in Hack |accessdate=2008-10-11 |last=Paul |first=Ian |date=2008-09-22 |work=Today @ PC World}}</ref>
FBI agents served a federal search warrant at David Kernell's apartment in Knoxville.<ref name=warrant>{{cite web |url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9115238/Report_FBI_searches_Tenn._student_s_apartment_in_Palin_hacking_case |title=Report: FBI serves search warrant against UT student in Palin case |access-date=August 7, 2012 |last=Keizer |first=Gregg |date=September 22, 2008 |work=Computerworld via WBIR.com}}</ref> Agents spent two hours taking pictures of everything inside his apartment.<ref name=warrant/> Kernell's three roommates were also subpoenaed and expected to testify the following week in [[Chattanooga]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_FBI_Search_The_Apartment_Of_Palin_Hack_Primary_Suspect_24837.html |title=FBI Search The Apartment Of Palin Hack Primary Suspect |access-date=October 10, 2008 |last=Chisamera |first=Dee |date=September 22, 2008 |work=eFluxMedia |archive-date=October 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008210006/http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_FBI_Search_The_Apartment_Of_Palin_Hack_Primary_Suspect_24837.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The obstruction of justice charge stems from an allegation by the FBI that Kernell attempted to erase evidence of the crime from his hard drive.<ref name="knoxnews 2010-04-23">{{cite news|url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/apr/23/fbi-kernell-tried-to-destroy-proof-of-e-mail/|title=FBI agent says Kernell tried to destroy proof of Palin e-mail breach|date=April 23, 2010|last=Satterfield
|first=Jamie|publisher=KnoxNews.com|access-date=April 23, 2010}}</ref> Kernell's father told ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' that he was aware that his son was a suspect, but he did not ask him anything about it over concerns that he may have to testify in court.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/007785.html |title=Palin Update: Tenn. Student Implicated in Hack |access-date=October 11, 2008 |last=Paul |first=Ian |date=September 22, 2008 |work=Today @ PC World |archive-date=October 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026094400/http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/007785.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>


== Indictment ==
== Indictment ==
⚫
A second federal grand jury in Knoxville returned an indictment of Kernell on October 7, 2008.<ref>{{cite press release |title=David C. Kernell Indicted for Alleged Hack of Governor Sarah Palin's E-mail Account |publisher=[[United States Department of Justice]] |date=October 8, 2008 |url=http://knoxville.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/2008/kxhacking100808.htm}}</ref> He was charged with violating {{USCSub|18|1030|a|2|C}} and {{USCSec|18|2701}}, or unlawful access to stored communications and intentionally accessing a computer without authorization across state lines, respectively.<ref>{{cite web | publisher=United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville | title = Indictment: United States of America v. David Kernell a/k/a "rubico," defendant | url = http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/tne/pr/2008/October/Kernell%20Indictment.pdf | date = October 7, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091202124440/http://www.justice.gov/usao/tne/pr/2008/October/Kernell%20Indictment.pdf |archive-date = December 2, 2009 }}</ref> Kernell turned himself in the next day.<ref name="Wired">{{cite magazine|magazine=Wired|date=October 8, 2017|author=Kim Zetter|title=Tennessee Student Indicted for Hacking Palin E-mail — Updated|url=https://www.wired.com/2008/10/tennessee-stude/}}</ref> Kernell pleaded not guilty.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7660811.stm |title=Man denies hacking Palin e-mail |access-date=October 12, 2008 |date=October 9, 2008 |work=BBC News}}</ref> The court released Kernell on his [[own recognizance]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Reid |author2=Tom Baldwin |title=John McCain campaign renews attack on 'terrorist's friend' Barack Obama |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4909813.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511034827/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4909813.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 11, 2011|agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=The Times |location=London |date=October 9, 2008 |access-date=October 12, 2008}}</ref> Kernell's attorney claimed that using "an e-mail address and a birth date does not constitute identity theft"; however, the court rejected that argument saying "once Governor Palin chose the Yahoo! ID <code><nowiki>gov.palin@yahoo.com</nowiki></code>, that became her unique address, and no one else could choose it."{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}

== Trial ==
In October 2008, Kernell was brought into court in handcuffs and ankle shackles to plead not guilty to the hacking and was released on bond. The case went to trial eighteen months later, on April 20, 2010. On April 23, Sarah Palin testified for 44 minutes. Her daughter, Bristol, testified as well. Following the conclusion of testimony, Sarah said, "I think there need to be consequences for bad behavior."<ref name=Sarah>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/23/AR2010042302477.html Accounts differ as Sarah Palin e-mail hacking case is sent to court in Knoxville], ''[[Washington Post]]'', April 24, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2018.</ref>

== Verdict and sentence ==
On April 30, 2010, David Kernell was found guilty on two of four counts: the [[felony]] of anticipatory obstruction of justice by destruction of records and found for the lower [[misdemeanor]] option of unauthorized access to a computer. The [[jury]] acquitted him of the charge of wire fraud. It was deadlocked on identity theft charge, so the judge declared a mistrial on that charge.<ref name=trial/> In response, Palin issued a press release comparing the case to [[Watergate]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sarah-palin-compares-hacking-case-to-watergate/ |title=Sarah Palin Compares Hacking Case to Watergate|date=April 30, 2010|work=[[CBS News]]|access-date = August 7, 2012}}</ref>

Sarah Palin said the family was "thankful that the jury thoroughly and carefully weighed the evidence and issued a just verdict."<ref>[https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/tennessee/2018/02/09/archives-jury-convicts-palin-e-mail-intruder-two-counts-mistrial-declared-id-theft/324928002/ Jury convicts Palin e-mail intruder on two counts; mistrial declared on ID theft], ''[[Knoxville News Sentinel]]'', Jim Balloch, February 9, 2018.</ref>

The prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Weddle, who had sought an 18-month prison sentence for Kernell, promised a retrial on the identity theft charge should he be successful in his attempt at receiving a new trial.<ref name=trial>{{cite news| url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011810320_apuspalinhacked.html |title=ID theft retrial in Palin hacking hinges on appeal|date=May 7, 2010|newspaper=[[Seattle Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

In November 2010, Kernell was sentenced to a year and a day of prison, preferably to be served in a halfway house, plus three years of probation, by U.S. District Judge [[Thomas W. Phillips (judge)|Thomas Phillips]], though he noted the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) could override his recommendations.<ref name=mcnamara>{{citation |title= Palin e-mail snoop sentenced to a year in custody. David Kernell faces the music for 2008 intrusion into candidate's account |author= Paul McNamara |publisher= [[Network World]] |date= 11 December 2010 | url= http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/palin-e-mail-snoop-sentenced-year-prison }}</ref><ref name="sentence2"/> However, the BOP, which makes the ultimate determination as to where federal prisoners serve their sentence, assigned Kernell to the minimum security prison at the [[Federal Correctional Institution, Ashland]] near [[Ashland, Kentucky|Ashland]], [[Kentucky]].<ref name="bop">{{cite web|url=http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=David&Middle=&LastName=Kernell&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=0&y=0|title=Inmate locator, David C. Kernell|publisher=[[Federal Bureau of Prisons]]|access-date=February 11, 2011|quote=Release date, actual or projected 11-23-11}}</ref><ref name="prison">{{cite news | title = Official explains placing David Kernell at Kentucky facility | date = January 28, 2011 | agency = [[Knoxville News-Sentinel]] | url = http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/jan/28/official-explains-placing-david-kernell-ky-facilit/ | access-date = January 28, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/216747/Palin_EMail_Hacker_Imprisoned_Against_Judge_Recommendation.html|title=Palin E-Mail Hacker Imprisoned Against Judge's Recommendation|work=PCWorld|author=Purewal, Sarah Jacobsson|date=14 January 2011|access-date=February 11, 2011}}</ref> Jose Santana, the chief of the BOP's Designation and Sentence Computation Center,<ref>[http://www.federalprisonauthority.com/who-we-are/ Federal Prison Authority- Who We Are Jose A. Santana JD], ''Federal Prison Authority''. Retrieved February 10, 2018.</ref> said that halfway houses are for convicts who have limited skills and/or limited support from their families. Because Kernell had the support of his family and had attended a university for three years, Santana argued that he does not need to be in a halfway house.<ref>"[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/28/AR2011012802470.html Feds: Palin hacker too well-off for halfway house]{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}." ''[[Associated Press]]'' at the ''[[Washington Post]]''. Friday January 28, 2011. Retrieved on February 1, 2011.</ref> Kernell was later relocated to a halfway house.<ref>{{cite news |title=UT student David Kernell convicted of hacking Sarah Palin's e-mail, in halfway house |url=http://www.wbir.com/news/article/178576/2/UT-student-convicted-of-hacking-Palins-e-mail-in-halfway-house |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209052905/http://www.wbir.com/news/article/178576/2/UT-student-convicted-of-hacking-Palins-e-mail-in-halfway-house |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 9, 2013 |work=[[WBIR-TV]] |location=Knoxville |date=August 2, 2011}}</ref>
[[File:FCIAshland.jpg|thumb|[[Federal Correctional Institution, Ashland]], where Kernell served part of his sentence]]

== Perpetrator ==
David Christopher Kernell was the son of longtime [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[Tennessee House of Representatives|state representative]] [[Mike Kernell]] of [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]].

Kernell won the Tennessee Open Scholastic Chess Championship in 2004, and graduated in 2006 from [[Germantown High School (Tennessee)|Germantown High School]]. After release from BOP custody, he returned to the [[University of Tennessee, Knoxville]] to finish an economics degree. He first volunteered his programming skills to Tennessee Voices for Children, a child advocacy nonprofit group.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Humphrey|first=Tom|date=2018-02-09|title=David Kernell, who as UT student hacked Sarah Palin's email account, dead at age 30|url=https://onthehill.tnjournal.net/david-kernell-ut-student-hacked-sarah-palins-email-account-dead-age-30/|access-date=2020-10-10|website=TNJ|language=en-US}}</ref> Diagnosed with [[multiple sclerosis]] (MS) in 2014, Kernell participated in clinical research trials at the [[Cedars-Sinai]] Neurosciences Research Center in Los Angeles to help develop cures and treatments for other victims of MS. After moving to California, he developed [[facial recognition system|facial recognition software]] that could identify children at risk of abuse.

Kernell died on February 2, 2018, in [[Newport Beach, California]], at the age of 30, from complications related to progressive MS.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/08/student-who-hacked-sarah-palins-emails-during-2008-campaign-dies/322013002/|title=Student who hacked Sarah Palin's emails during 2008 campaign dies|work=USA TODAY|access-date=2018-02-09|language=en}}</ref><ref>[https://www.adn.com/nation-world/2018/02/09/tennessee-man-who-hacked-sarah-palins-email-in-2008-dies/ Tennessee man who famously hacked Sarah Palin’s Yahoo email account in 2008 is dead], ''[[Commercial Appeal]]'', Ryan Poe, February 9, 2018.</ref>


== See also ==
A [[federal grand jury]] in [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]] considered Kernell's case in September but did not deliver an indictment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crn.com/security/210603458 |title=Kernell Retains Lawyer, Is Not Indicted |accessdate=2008-10-11 |last=Moriarity |first=Caitlin |date=2008-09-23 |work=The Channel Wire}}</ref> Kernell retained [[Knoxville, Tennessee]] attorney Wade V. Davies.
{{Portalbar|United States|Internet}}
* [[Email privacy]]
* [[Secrecy of correspondence]]


{{clear}}
⚫
A second federal grand jury in Knoxville returned an indictment of Kernell on [[October 7]], [[2008]].<ref>{{cite press release |title=David C. Kernell Indicted for Alleged Hack of Governor Sarah Palin's E-mail Account |publisher=[[United States Department of Justice]] |date=2008-10-08 |url=http://knoxville.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/2008/kxhacking100808.htm}}</ref> He was charged with violating [[18 U.S.C.]] [http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/2701.html Section 2701] and [http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/1030.html#a_2_C Section 1030(a)(2)(C)], or unlawful access to stored communications and intentionally accessing a computer without authorization across state lines, respectively.<ref>{{cite web | publisher=United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville | title = Indictment: United States of America v. David Kernell a/k/a "rubico," defendant | url = http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/tne/pr/2008/October/Kernell%20Indictment.pdf | date = 2008-10-07 }}</ref> Kernell turned himself in the next day.<ref name="mansfield">{{cite news |first=Duncan |last=Mansfield |title=Son of Tenn. Democrat indicted in Palin hacking |url=http://news.wired.com/dynamic/stories/P/PALIN_HACKED?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-10-08-09-28-37 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=Wired.com |date=2008-10-09 |accessdate=2008-10-12}}</ref> Kernell denied the charges and pled not-guilty.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7660811.stm |title=Man denies hacking Palin e-mail |accessdate=2008-10-12 |date=2008-10-09 |work=BBC News}}</ref> The court released Kernell without [[bail]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Reid |coauthors=Tom Baldwin |title=John McCain campaign renews attack on 'terrorist's friend' Barack Obama |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4909813.ece|agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=The Times |location=London |date=2008-10-09 |accessdate=2008-10-12}}</ref> A trial date was set for April 2009 but has since been delayed at the request of both attorneys.<ref name="mansfield"/><ref>{{cite news |first=Jamie |last=Satterfield |title= Accused e-mail hacker staying out of trouble |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/nov/15/accused-e-mail-hacker-staying-out-trouble/ |publisher= [[Knoxville News-Sentinel]] |location=Knoxville, Tennessee |date=15 November 2008 |accessdate=20 January 2009}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}


==External links==
{{Sarah Palin|state=expanded}}
* [https://www.scribd.com/doc/35688046/Christopher-Moot-Poole-Testimony-in-Palin-Email-Trial Court testimony by 4chan's founder and former administrator "moot"]
{{WikiLeaks}}
{{Hacking in the 2000s}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarah Palin email hack}}
[[Category:Sarah Palin|Email hack]]
[[Category:Sarah Palin|Email hack]]
[[Category:Hacking (computer security)|Palin, Sarah, email hack]]
[[Category:Privacy of telecommunications]]
[[Category:People associated with e-mail controversies]]
[[Category:Yahoo! Mail]]
[[Category:Privacy in the United States]]
[[Category:Hacking of Yahoo!]]
[[Category:Email hacking]]
[[Category:4chan]]
[[Category:4chan]]
[[Category:September 2008 crimes in the United States]]
[[Category:Hacking in the 2000s]]

Latest revision as of 14:58, 25 November 2024

David Kernell

The Sarah Palin email hack occurred on September 16, 2008, during the 2008 United States presidential election campaign when vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's personal Yahoo! email account was subjected to unauthorized access. The hacker, David Kernell, obtained access to Palin's account by looking up biographical details, such as her high school and birthdate, and using Yahoo!'s account recovery for forgotten passwords.[1] Kernell then posted several pages of Palin's email on 4chan's /b/ board. Kernell, who at the time of the offense was a 20-year-old college student, was the son of longtime Democratic state representative Mike Kernell of Memphis.

Kernell was charged in October 2008 in federal court. After he was led into the court in leg irons and handcuffs, the judge released him on his own recognizance, pending trial.[2][3] The incident was ultimately prosecuted in a U.S. federal court as four felony crimes punishable by up to 50 years in federal prison.[4][5] The charges were three felonies: identity theft, wire fraud, and anticipatory obstruction of justice; and one optional as felony or misdemeanor: intentionally accessing an account without authorization. Kernell pleaded not guilty to all counts.

A jury trial, featuring testimony of Sarah and Bristol Palin, as well as of 4chan founder Christopher Poole,[6] began on April 20, 2010.[4] The jury found Kernell guilty on two counts: the felony of anticipatory obstruction of justice and the misdemeanor of unauthorized access to a computer.[7][8] On her Facebook page, Sarah Palin stated that she and her family were thankful the jury had rendered a just verdict.[9]

Kernell was sentenced on November 12, 2010, to one year plus a day in federal custody,[10] followed by three years of supervised release.[10] The sentencing judge recommended that the custody be served in a halfway house,[10] but the Federal Bureau of Prisons sent him instead to a minimum security prison.[11][12] He was released on November 23, 2011.[13] In January 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit found Kernell's awareness of a possible future FBI investigation was enough to uphold a conviction on obstruction of justice.[14]

Incident

[edit]

Shortly after midnight on September 16, 2008,[5] the private Yahoo! Mail account of Sarah Palin was cracked by a 4chan user.[5] The hacker, known as "Rubico", claimed he had read Palin's personal e-mails because he was looking for something that "would derail her campaign."[5][15]

After reading through Palin's emails, Rubico wrote, "There was nothing there, nothing incriminating — all I saw was personal stuff, some clerical stuff from when she was governor."[5][15] Rubico wrote that he used the Sarah Palin Wikipedia article to find Palin's birth date (one of the standard security questions used by Yahoo![16]) in "15 seconds." The hacker posted the account's password on /b/, an image board on 4chan, and screenshots from within the account to WikiLeaks.[17] A /b/ user then logged in and changed the password, posting a screenshot of his sending an email to a friend of Palin's informing her of the new password on the /b/ thread. This man was criticized heavily by the /b/ community, for being a "white knight". However, he did not blank out the password in the screenshot.[18] A multitude of /b/ users then attempted to log in with the new password, and the account was automatically locked out by Yahoo!. The incident was criticized by some /b/ users, one of whom complained that "seriously, /b/. We could have changed history and failed, epically."[19] The hacker admitted he was worried about being caught, writing "Yes I was behind a proxy, only one, if this sh*t ever got to the FBI I was f**ked, I panicked, I still wanted the stuff out there ... so I posted the [information] ... and then promptly deleted everything, and unplugged my internet and just sat there in a comatose state."[16]

The hacker left behind traces of his activity. His IP address was logged at the proxy he used, CTunnel.com, and he also left his email address rubico10@yahoo.com when he posted at 4chan. Furthermore, the attacker revealed the original web address used by the proxy[20] by leaving this information in the screenshot which according to experts can also help the investigation.[20] 4chan's /b/ board is not archived, and posts are only retained for a short time. However, with the great interest surrounding the posts of Rubico, many, including the magazine Wired, archived the original posts.[21] The email address left behind was then connected to David Kernell through various social networking profiles where it was used,[22] though no official investigation took place at this time.

Campaign response

[edit]

John McCain's campaign condemned the incident, saying it was a "shocking invasion of the governor's privacy and a violation of law".[20] Barack Obama's spokesman Bill Burton called the hacking "outrageous".[16]

Federal investigation

[edit]

The FBI and Secret Service began investigating the incident and on September 20, it was revealed that they were questioning David Kernell, a 20-year-old economics student at the University of Tennessee and the son of Democratic Tennessee State Representative Mike Kernell from Memphis.[23][24][25][26] The handle used by the hacker when making his post at 4chan pointed to him, although this evidence was inconclusive because of the frequent pranks pulled at that board.[27] The hacker's proxy service provided its logs, which pointed to Kernell's residence.[24][27]

FBI agents served a federal search warrant at David Kernell's apartment in Knoxville.[28] Agents spent two hours taking pictures of everything inside his apartment.[28] Kernell's three roommates were also subpoenaed and expected to testify the following week in Chattanooga.[29] The obstruction of justice charge stems from an allegation by the FBI that Kernell attempted to erase evidence of the crime from his hard drive.[30] Kernell's father told Wired that he was aware that his son was a suspect, but he did not ask him anything about it over concerns that he may have to testify in court.[31]

Indictment

[edit]

A second federal grand jury in Knoxville returned an indictment of Kernell on October 7, 2008.[32] He was charged with violating 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(2)(C) and § 2701, or unlawful access to stored communications and intentionally accessing a computer without authorization across state lines, respectively.[33] Kernell turned himself in the next day.[34] Kernell pleaded not guilty.[35] The court released Kernell on his own recognizance.[36] Kernell's attorney claimed that using "an e-mail address and a birth date does not constitute identity theft"; however, the court rejected that argument saying "once Governor Palin chose the Yahoo! ID gov.palin@yahoo.com, that became her unique address, and no one else could choose it."[citation needed]

Trial

[edit]

In October 2008, Kernell was brought into court in handcuffs and ankle shackles to plead not guilty to the hacking and was released on bond. The case went to trial eighteen months later, on April 20, 2010. On April 23, Sarah Palin testified for 44 minutes. Her daughter, Bristol, testified as well. Following the conclusion of testimony, Sarah said, "I think there need to be consequences for bad behavior."[37]

Verdict and sentence

[edit]

On April 30, 2010, David Kernell was found guilty on two of four counts: the felony of anticipatory obstruction of justice by destruction of records and found for the lower misdemeanor option of unauthorized access to a computer. The jury acquitted him of the charge of wire fraud. It was deadlocked on identity theft charge, so the judge declared a mistrial on that charge.[38] In response, Palin issued a press release comparing the case to Watergate.[39]

Sarah Palin said the family was "thankful that the jury thoroughly and carefully weighed the evidence and issued a just verdict."[40]

The prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Weddle, who had sought an 18-month prison sentence for Kernell, promised a retrial on the identity theft charge should he be successful in his attempt at receiving a new trial.[38]

In November 2010, Kernell was sentenced to a year and a day of prison, preferably to be served in a halfway house, plus three years of probation, by U.S. District Judge Thomas Phillips, though he noted the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) could override his recommendations.[41][10] However, the BOP, which makes the ultimate determination as to where federal prisoners serve their sentence, assigned Kernell to the minimum security prison at the Federal Correctional Institution, Ashland near Ashland, Kentucky.[11][12][42] Jose Santana, the chief of the BOP's Designation and Sentence Computation Center,[43] said that halfway houses are for convicts who have limited skills and/or limited support from their families. Because Kernell had the support of his family and had attended a university for three years, Santana argued that he does not need to be in a halfway house.[44] Kernell was later relocated to a halfway house.[45]

Federal Correctional Institution, Ashland, where Kernell served part of his sentence

Perpetrator

[edit]

David Christopher Kernell was the son of longtime Democratic state representative Mike Kernell of Memphis.

Kernell won the Tennessee Open Scholastic Chess Championship in 2004, and graduated in 2006 from Germantown High School. After release from BOP custody, he returned to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville to finish an economics degree. He first volunteered his programming skills to Tennessee Voices for Children, a child advocacy nonprofit group.[46] Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2014, Kernell participated in clinical research trials at the Cedars-Sinai Neurosciences Research Center in Los Angeles to help develop cures and treatments for other victims of MS. After moving to California, he developed facial recognition software that could identify children at risk of abuse.

Kernell died on February 2, 2018, in Newport Beach, California, at the age of 30, from complications related to progressive MS.[47][48]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Gehringer, Edward. "Personal Vs. Professional E Mail: The Palin Case". 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition.
  2. ^ Lakin, Matt (October 8, 2008). "UT student David Kernell pleads not guilty in Palin e-mail hacking". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  3. ^ Michele Masterson (September 19, 2008). "Memphis Democrat Rep. Confirms Son Is Subject Of Speculation In Connection With Palin Hack". CRN.com. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  4. ^ a b AP staff reporter (April 7, 2010). "Palin set to take stand in Tenn. hacking trial". FOX News. Associated Press. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e Johnson, Bobbie (May 27, 2010). "Sarah Palin vs the hacker". The Sunday Telegraph (UK). London. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  6. ^ "Court testimony by 4chan's founder and former administrator 'moot'" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-20.
  7. ^ Poovy, Bill (May 1, 2010). "Man convicted of Palin email hacking". The Sydney Morning Herald. Associated Press.
  8. ^ Balloch, Jim (April 30, 2010). "Jury convicts Palin e-mail intruder on two counts; mistrial declared on ID theft". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  9. ^ Palin, Sarah (April 30, 2010). "The Hacker Case Verdict". Facebook.
  10. ^ a b c d Mungin, Lateef (November 12, 2010). "Prison or halfway house for Palin e-mail hacker". CNN. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  11. ^ a b "Inmate locator, David C. Kernell". Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved February 11, 2011. Release date, actual or projected 11-23-11
  12. ^ a b "Official explains placing David Kernell at Kentucky facility". Knoxville News-Sentinel. January 28, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  13. ^ Register No. 32341-074, Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  14. ^ Baynes, Terry (January 30, 2012). "Sarah Palin email hacker loses appeal". Reuters. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  15. ^ a b Rowland, Kara (September 19, 2008). "Hacker wanted to 'derail' Palin". The Washington Times. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
  16. ^ a b c Carl Campanile (September 19, 2008). "Dem Pol's Son Was 'Hacker': I Spied On Palin' Boast Pops Up On 'Net". New York Post. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  17. ^ Tom Phillips (September 17, 2008). "Sarah Palin's email gets hacked". Metro. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
  18. ^ M. J. Stephey (September 17, 2008). "Sarah Palin's E-mail Hacked". TIME. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
  19. ^ David Sarno (September 17, 2008). "4Chan's half-hack of Palin's email goes awry". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
  20. ^ a b c "Student suspect in Palin hacking". BBC News. September 23, 2008. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  21. ^ "Palin hacker gets one year". www.digitaljournal.com. 2010-11-13. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  22. ^ Sarno, David (September 24, 2008). "A hit-and-run at digital speed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  23. ^ "Palin Hacker Indicted". The Smoking Gun. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
  24. ^ a b Steve Bosak (September 20, 2008). "Suspect Nabbed in Palin E-mail Hack". NewsFactor. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
  25. ^ Goodin, Dan (October 8, 2008). "Son of state lawmaker charged with Palin email hack". The Register. Retrieved October 10, 2008.
  26. ^ Lakin, Matt (October 9, 2008). "Jury indicts UT student accused of hacking Palin's e-mail". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved October 10, 2008.
  27. ^ a b "Grand jury investigates Palin e-mail hack; no charges yet". Ars Technica. September 24, 2008.
  28. ^ a b Keizer, Gregg (September 22, 2008). "Report: FBI serves search warrant against UT student in Palin case". Computerworld via WBIR.com. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  29. ^ Chisamera, Dee (September 22, 2008). "FBI Search The Apartment Of Palin Hack Primary Suspect". eFluxMedia. Archived from the original on October 8, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2008.
  30. ^ Satterfield, Jamie (April 23, 2010). "FBI agent says Kernell tried to destroy proof of Palin e-mail breach". KnoxNews.com. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  31. ^ Paul, Ian (September 22, 2008). "Palin Update: Tenn. Student Implicated in Hack". Today @ PC World. Archived from the original on October 26, 2008. Retrieved October 11, 2008.
  32. ^ "David C. Kernell Indicted for Alleged Hack of Governor Sarah Palin's E-mail Account" (Press release). United States Department of Justice. October 8, 2008.
  33. ^ "Indictment: United States of America v. David Kernell a/k/a "rubico," defendant" (PDF). United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. October 7, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 2, 2009.
  34. ^ Kim Zetter (October 8, 2017). "Tennessee Student Indicted for Hacking Palin E-mail — Updated". Wired.
  35. ^ "Man denies hacking Palin e-mail". BBC News. October 9, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
  36. ^ Reid, Tim; Tom Baldwin (October 9, 2008). "John McCain campaign renews attack on 'terrorist's friend' Barack Obama". The Times. London. Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
  37. ^ Accounts differ as Sarah Palin e-mail hacking case is sent to court in Knoxville, Washington Post, April 24, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  38. ^ a b "ID theft retrial in Palin hacking hinges on appeal". Seattle Times. Associated Press. May 7, 2010.
  39. ^ "Sarah Palin Compares Hacking Case to Watergate". CBS News. April 30, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  40. ^ Jury convicts Palin e-mail intruder on two counts; mistrial declared on ID theft, Knoxville News Sentinel, Jim Balloch, February 9, 2018.
  41. ^ Paul McNamara (11 December 2010), Palin e-mail snoop sentenced to a year in custody. David Kernell faces the music for 2008 intrusion into candidate's account, Network World
  42. ^ Purewal, Sarah Jacobsson (14 January 2011). "Palin E-Mail Hacker Imprisoned Against Judge's Recommendation". PCWorld. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  43. ^ Federal Prison Authority- Who We Are Jose A. Santana JD, Federal Prison Authority. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  44. ^ "Feds: Palin hacker too well-off for halfway house[dead link‍]." Associated Press at the Washington Post. Friday January 28, 2011. Retrieved on February 1, 2011.
  45. ^ "UT student David Kernell convicted of hacking Sarah Palin's e-mail, in halfway house". WBIR-TV. Knoxville. August 2, 2011. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013.
  46. ^ Humphrey, Tom (2018-02-09). "David Kernell, who as UT student hacked Sarah Palin's email account, dead at age 30". TNJ. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  47. ^ "Student who hacked Sarah Palin's emails during 2008 campaign dies". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  48. ^ Tennessee man who famously hacked Sarah Palin’s Yahoo email account in 2008 is dead, Commercial Appeal, Ryan Poe, February 9, 2018.
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