Palin 'Hacker' Dodges Charges —for Now

Grand jury to resume hearing testimony on Tenn. student

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 24, 2008 3:22 AM CDT

(Newser) – A federal grand jury ended its session yesterday without handing down an indictment against a University of Tennessee student accused of breaking into Sarah Palin’s email account, reports the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The panel heard testimony from schoolmates of David Kernell, the 20-year-old son of state Democratic Rep. Michael Kernell. The proceedings are expected to resume today.

Neither the students interviewed nor exiting FBI agents, offered any comment on the case. The FBI launched an investigation after a hacker breached Palin's personal Yahoo email account last week. Kernell's home was searched, but no charges were immediately filed against him.

Rep. Mike Kernell (D-Memphi), father of hacing suspect David Kernell. (AP Photo)

This screenshot from Gawker shows Palin's emails. (AP Photo)

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. (AP Photo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

FBI Raids Suspected Palin Hacker

Tennessee student's home raided

(NEWSER) - A 20-year-old student suspected of hacking into Sarah Palin's Yahoo email account found himself on the wrong end of an FBI search warrant while throwing a party Saturday night, reports NBC affiliate WBIR-TV in Knoxville. David Kernell, a student at the University of Tennessee, is the son of a prominent Democratic state legislator. More»

Palin Hacker Found Guilty on 2 Counts

David Kernell convicted of obstruction of justice, unlawful email access

(NEWSER) - A federal jury has convicted a 22-year-old former University of Tennessee student of hacking Sarah Palin's Yahoo email account during the 2008 campaign. David Kernell was acquitted of wire fraud but convicted of a felony, obstruction of justice, and a misdemeanor, unlawful computer access. The jury failed to reach a verdict on a charge of identity theft, WBIR in Knoxville reports. Kernell faces a maximum sentence of 21 years. More»

Palin Says Email Hacker Should Face 'Consequences'

Ex-governor says breach caused a 'disruption'

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin took the stand today to testify about the hacking of her Yahoo email account, allegedly by a former Tennessee college student, and described the breach to a packed courthouse as a "disruption" both of her family life and the 2008 presidential campaign. Palin said she found out about the hacking on the news when she saw "a picture of my kids on the television screen," the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. "It caused a huge disruption in the campaign," she said. More»

Accused Palin Hacker Pleads Not Guilty

David Kernell free for now but faces up to 5 years in prison

(NEWSER) - A Tennessee college student has been indicted on charges of hacking into Sarah Palin's email account and posting private info online, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. David Kernell, the 20-year-old son of state Democratic Rep. Michael Kernell, pleaded not guilty. His trial is set for Dec. 16; he's free until then as long as he restricts his computer use to school work, doesn't leave Eastern Tennessee, and doesn't contact Palin. More»

Sure, You Can See Palin Email ... for $15M

And after Alaska fees for search, they won't be ready until mid-Nov.

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin ran on a platform of transparent government, but it seems that Alaskan transparency has a price: $15 million. That’s how much the governor’s office wants from news organizations for copies of official email, MSNBC reports. Even if organizations are willing to pay up, the email will be censored, and won’t come until well after Election Day. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Palin 'Hacker' Dodges Charges —for Now

Grand jury to resume hearing testimony on Tenn. student

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

email • Tennessee • grand jury • hacking • Election 2008 • Sarah Palin • Chattanooga • David Kernell • Mike Kernell • Sarah Palin emails

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

FBI Raids Suspected Palin Hacker

Tennessee student's home raided

Palin Hacker Found Guilty on 2 Counts

David Kernell convicted of obstruction of justice, unlawful email access

Palin Says Email Hacker Should Face 'Consequences'

Ex-governor says breach caused a 'disruption'

Accused Palin Hacker Pleads Not Guilty

David Kernell free for now but faces up to 5 years in prison

Sure, You Can See Palin Email ... for $15M

And after Alaska fees for search, they won't be ready until mid-Nov.

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Palin 'Hacker' Dodges Charges —for Now

Grand jury to resume hearing testimony on Tenn. student

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

email • Tennessee • grand jury • hacking • Election 2008 • Sarah Palin • Chattanooga • David Kernell • Mike Kernell • Sarah Palin emails

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

FBI Raids Suspected Palin Hacker

Tennessee student's home raided

Palin Hacker Found Guilty on 2 Counts

David Kernell convicted of obstruction of justice, unlawful email access

Palin Says Email Hacker Should Face 'Consequences'

Ex-governor says breach caused a 'disruption'

Accused Palin Hacker Pleads Not Guilty

David Kernell free for now but faces up to 5 years in prison

Sure, You Can See Palin Email ... for $15M

And after Alaska fees for search, they won't be ready until mid-Nov.

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?