Attorney General Tom Corbett subpoenaes Twitter account info of blogger who criticizes his campaign

[kpete]

Attorney General Tom Corbett subpoenaes Twitter account information of blogger who criticizes his campaign tactics
By Laura Vecsey
May 19, 2010, 1:25PM

A blog focused on exposing the alleged "hypocrisy" of Attorney General Tom Corbett and the Twitter account associated with that blog could soon be enjoying a bounce in reader interest, thanks to a subpoena ordered by Corbett's office earlier this month.

Corbett, who won a primary against Rep. Sam Rohrer Tuesday and will be the Republican nominee for governor in November, subpoenaed Twitter representatives to appear as grand jury witnesses to “testify and give evidence regarding alleged violations of the laws of Pennsylvania.''

The case could gain viral attention, since the subpoena calls into question the right to free speech, specifically from anonymous posters on the World Wide Web. The Huffington Post began carrying the story Tuesday, courtesy of TechCrunch.

Case laws are emerging, but there's a question as to whether the AG's office is looking into defamation or whether the subpoena coincides with further investigation of the state General Assembly.

more (plus links):
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/05/tom_corbett_subpoenaes_twitter.html

[joeybee12]

1. Just so you know, a subpoena can pretty much mean nothing...you can object

to a subpoena, and then the issuer, in this case Mr. Dickhead Corbett, has to get a court to order you to comply...that takes a while and the court might not look kindly on Mr. D Corbett's essential harrassment.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Having someone critical of you who has facts that will go on record

cannot benefit your campaign.

Drop it Tom.

[Bitwit1234]

3. Hmmm free speech...well folks

if corporations are allowed free speech by donating money and are called "people", why can't a real person give his opinion on a subject...supreme court you set a precedent guess this guy can just cite it.

[MgtPA]

4. Tom Corbett, Space Cadet.