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Is there any precedence or possibility of either filing civil or criminal charges against a Government official for their _official_ actions? Something that will not only make for some Serious Press, but hit them from an unexpected angle?

It's extremely difficult to do that and not get laughed out of court. Think about it. If the president or congress could be sued for their official actions, every unemployed auto worker would be suing them for not restricting Japanese imports. That's what sovereign immunity is for; to keep the government from being nibbled to death by millions of little nuisance suits from soreheads all over the country.

Alternatively, could a civil suit be filed for invasion of privacy or somesuch? Or perhaps the previously mentioned violation of civil rights (a la Rodney King)?

Well actually, Congress is probably not subject to it's own laws on privacy. I remember during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings there was a bit of a to-do about exactly who it was that leaked Anita Hill's allegations to the press; and Joe Biden was going around saying "No crimes were committed, no crimes were committed." This was explained as Congress-speak for "The leak of Hill's allegations were done by a Congressman, not a staffer" (It's illegal for staff member to disclose confidential material, but it's OK for his boss to do it).

How many laws, etc, can we invoke? I mean, most congresscritters don't craft laws on their own, so the involvement of their staff would constitute conspiracy, as well, wouldn't it?

First rule of computer self preservation: never try to hack a hacker. Any legal harrassment you can do to them, they can do to you. They're better at it, and they've got a lot more money than you do. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6ui iQCVAgUBMAfWao4k1+54BopBAQGjXgP/e6I7dvnOb45EGD4M06KIuKvZu1FqAQFV Ljt5YFwPrIJuvoiVCZ+u/5d4EGsmCjh3kAUmFY/mJG/9dUj4nFMJFZjssjtuVi3X hY4I/XFzx6tyTEE0RYOjgZPYx/ruZxegNSBnwMypDAGoYnw2SlExV22hLqVBT3A2 mZLKkHYpm0Q= =ARI+ -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- Thank you VERY much! You'll be getting a Handsome Simulfax Copy of your OWN words in the mail soon (and My Reply). <Andrew.Spring@ping.be> PGP Print: 0529 C9AF 613E 9E49 378E 54CD E232 DF96 Thank you for question, exit left to Funway.