Blunt's Eckersley Scandal, Day Fifteen

Appointed as United States Attorney for Missouri's Western District immediately following the tenure of Bradley Schlozman --whose appointment to that post was the nadir of the Justice Department's politicization-- one would think that John Wood would be particularly careful not to appear as though he is using his post to favor fellow Republicans.  Yet Wood, just like Republican Cole County prosecutor Mark Richardson, sits idly while the law is broken within his jurisdiction by state officials under the control of Governor Matt Blunt.

John Wood (cousin of GOP Senator Kit Bond) is responsible for enforcing federal laws in Missouri's Western District, which includes Jefferson City and therefore gives him jurisdiction to prosecute federal crimes perpetrated under the auspices of official acts of state government, such as criminal actions taken by a governor or his staff.

­Wood, in other words, is responsible for enforcing the provisions of federal law like the Stored Communications Act, codified at Chapter 121, Section 2701 of Title XVIII of the U.S. Code.  That law reads, in relevant part:

(a)
Offense.— Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section whoever—

­

(1)
intentionally accesses without authorization a facility through which an electronic communication service is provided; or

(2)
intentionally exceeds an authorization to access that facility;and thereby obtains, alters, or prevents
authorized access to a wire or electronic communication while it is in
electronic storage in such system shall be punished as provided in
subsection (b) of this section.

Convicted violators of this act could face as much as 5 years in prison, if the act were undertaken for purposes of causing "malicious destruction or damage."

There is little dispute that someone within Matt Blunt's administration exceeded his or her authorization to access a facility where Scott Eckersley's electronic communication service is provided and obtained an electronic communication while it was in electronic storage.  In doing so, the individual responsible engaged in behavior that meets the components of a federal crime under Title XVIII, Chapter 121, Section 2701. 

The facts alone which have already been reported by the news media regarding access to Scott Eckersley's email account are more than sufficient to prove a prima facie criminal violation.  So why hasn't John Wood insisted that his office begin an investigation?  Is he willing, like Mark Richardson apparently is, to let the commission of crimes in his jurisdiction go unpunished if prosecuting them will lead to political complications for fellow Republicans?