http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/06/AR2006040600293.html The Associated Press April 6, 2006 WASHINGTON -- Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Thursday he did not believe a department official's alleged sexual misconduct resulted in a breach of national security, calling the case an individual's "misstep." "From time to time, there will be instances when misconduct occurs," Chertoff said, referring to the arrest Tuesday of Brian J. Doyle, the department's fourth-ranking spokesman, on charges of sexually preying on a detective posing as a 14-year-old girl. Doyle, 55, allegedly provided the pseudo-victim with his government-issued office phone and cell phone numbers, showed off his department ID and may have used his official computer in chatting her up. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King, R-N.Y., has vowed to investigate the department's hiring procedures, saying Doyle may have provided "potentially sensitive information over the Internet to a complete stranger." But Chertoff, noting that "individuals will misstep," said he doubted the offense created a risk to national security based on the allegations. "We try to weed out those who pose a security risk," Chertoff said in a briefing with reporters. "I don't know ... that background checks with people hired will predict future behavior." But he added: "We are always focused on tightening our security. We will certainly cooperate with Congress." Doyle, who lives in suburban Silver Spring, Md., has been suspended from his job without pay and was being held without bail at a nearby detention center as Florida seeks to extradite him. _________________________________ LayerOne 2006 : Pasadena Hilton : Pasadena, CA Infomation Security and Technology Conference http://layerone.info
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