Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's computer hacked

By Stone Martindale Sep 11, 2006, 20:57 GMT

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is told by Republican Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia "I\'m Hot Blooded, check it and see..got a temperature of a 103...come\'on baby do ya do more than dance..I\'m hot-blooded, hot-blooded.." REUTERS/Robert Galbraith

A criminal investigation into security breaches and illegal downloads by hackers into the personal computers of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office has commenced by CHP, (California Highway Patrol)  after an embarrassing private taped conversation was leaked last week to the Los Angeles Times.

"There is an investigation conducted by the California Highway Patrol on how the tape obtained by the L.A. Times was acquired," said a senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity to the San Francisco Chronicle. "This is a criminal matter that has been turned over to the CHP."

The governor was skewered by political opposition last week after the LAT reported that during a conversation in March with Susan Kennedy, his chief of staff, and Gary Delsohn, his speechwriter, Schwarzenegger referred to Latinos and African Americans and specifically Republican Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, who is of Puerto Rican descent -- as having "hot" blood or a passionate temperament.

The LAT reported that the conversation was taped as part of Delsohn's practice to capture the governor's speech patterns for his work.

After the Times story broke, Schwarzenegger apologized immediately for the remark, saying he "cringed" upon reading it in the newspapers. Garcia defended the governor, saying she took it as a compliment that she was "passionate" on issues.

But Democrats wasted no time to pounce on Schwarzenegger, including the party's candidate for governor, state Treasurer Phil Angelides, called the governor's remarks an insult to minorities.

The tape made by Delsohn was allegedly available to only a few individuals in the governor's office, and there was immediate suspicion the tapes were obtained by someone hacking into the computers in the governor's office, where the tapes were stored digitally.

According to a senior administration official who spoke Sunday with The San Francisco Chronicle, a preliminary investigation showed that an outside individual or individuals had apparently hacked into the servers of Schwarzenegger's office, downloading the tapes.

"The state's computer system was breached from individuals using outside computers" on three separate occasions -- Aug. 29, Aug. 30 and Sept. 4, the official said, describing the breach as "a very serious matter."

Tom Marshal, spokesman for the CHP, confirmed Sunday that an investigation is under way into the security of the computer system in the governor's office.

Some experts said antiquated government computer systems are among the most vulnerable to outside hackers, especially systems used by California state agencies.