JEFFERSON CITY 鈥 A spokesman for the Missouri Highway Patrol said Monday the agency had completed an investigation of the 蜜芽传媒 Post-Dispatch announced in October by Gov. Mike Parson.
Capt. John Hotz said the results were turned over to Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson.
鈥淭he investigation has been completed and turned over to the Cole County Prosecutor鈥檚 office,鈥 Hotz told the Post-Dispatch on Monday.
Parson, a Republican, announced the investigation in October after a Post-Dispatch reporter alerted the state to a significant data issue that left the Social Security numbers of educators vulnerable to public disclosure.
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According to records obtained by the newspaper through an open records request, Margie Vandeven, state education commissioner, initially planned on thanking the Post-Dispatch for uncovering the state鈥檚 data problem, but the state ultimately issued a press release labeling the reporter a 鈥渉acker.鈥
The next day, Parson said at a news conference: 鈥淣ot only are we going to hold this individual accountable, but we will also be holding accountable all those who aided this individual and the media corporation that employs them.鈥
Thompson on Monday said he could not comment on the matter, adding, 鈥淚 can鈥檛 send out the law enforcement report prior to an announcement on a decision.鈥
After the 蜜芽传媒 Post-Dispatch reported first to the state and then in a news story that teacher Social Security numbers were at risk of exposure on a state website, Gov. Mike Parson said Thursday that the state would investigate, calling the newspaper鈥檚 actions 鈥渉acking.鈥
A Post-Dispatch reporter, Josh Renaud, alerted the state to security flaws on a teacher certification website, and Gov. Mike Parson responded …
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Essential reading: Governor threatens Post-Dispatch after discovery of data vulnerability
Jack Suntrup
Jefferson City reporter
