From the Springfield, MO
News-Leader:
The Social Security investigator at the center of the controversy
involving the concealed carry information of thousands of Missourians
was subpoenaed Friday by the Missouri Senate.
The
Senate issued the subpoena to Special Agent Keith Schilb with the
Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration,
according to a news release from Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia.
Schaefer has led efforts to investigate the issue.
The
Missouri State Highway Patrol has twice provided a list of concealed
carry permit holders compiled by the Department of Revenue to Schilb, as
part of an investigation of Social Security disability benefit fraud.
Of course, Schilb won't appear. Federal employees are immune from state subpoenas concerning their official employment activities.
Well, not so fast. Who says that requesting a list of state concealed carry permit holders is part of his job? What justification did he have? If he cannot show that this was in fact specifically job-related, and not just some kind of personal fishing expedition, he might be left "twisting in the wind" by the agency, depending on the potential political blowback.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Being a federal employee doesn't make you bullet proof to state charges.
ReplyDeleteIf they don't go down that route, I hope someone files suit in federal court under violation of the Privacy Act.
Justin
Yawn
ReplyDeleteAs part of state-federal cooperation, SSA should direct their employee to appear and answer the question, rather than have OGC and the US Attorney Office look for ways to wiggle out.
ReplyDeleteThe "smart" idea of checking FAA pilot records against the SS disability rolls can only be pushed so far.