The social security numbers of South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and her family were published online as part of the records of the House Select Committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6 protests at the US Capitol.
Noem’s lawyers have sent a letter to the White House, the National Archives, and the chair of the Jan. 6 Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson, demanding to know who was responsible for the leak and what measures will be taken to protect Noem and her family.
“Governor Noem and her family are now at a very high risk of identity theft and being personally compromised due to the failure to redact the social security numbers,” warned attorney James Moore in a letter to those involved in obtaining and publishing the White House visitor logs.
“This wrongful public dissemination of Governor Noem and her family’s social security numbers is a direct violation of federal law,” Moore went on to say.
“We expect a detailed response addressing how the breach of privacy occurred, who was responsible, what steps each of you has taken to remedy the breach, and what specific measures and remedies will be taken to protect Governor Noem and her family in light of the public dissemination of their private information and the heightened risk for identity theft and other future privacy violations.”
The social security numbers were originally recorded on visitor logs for the White House, which Noem says she visited in her official capacity.
The logs were provided to the Jan. 6 Committee as part of the investigation, but personal information was supposed to be redacted before the logs were published.
The Government Publishing Office shared the exhibits, including the unredacted social security numbers, for several days before taking the information down.
The social security numbers of Noem’s husband, children, and son-in-law were also made public.
“My lawyers have asked the @WhiteHouse, the @USNatArchives, and @BennieGThompson which of them is responsible for leaking the Social Security Numbers of me, my husband, my 3 kids, and my son-in-law.” Gov. Noem tweeted on Friday. “What specific measures and remedies will be taken to protect our identities?”
