Application security, Breach, Compliance Management, Data Security, Network Security, Privacy, Vulnerability Management

Pence used AOL for Indiana gov’t business, released emails show

When he was governor of Indiana, Vice President Mike Pence used a private AOL account - that was hacked in the summer- to conduct government business that included sensitive and homeland security matters, according to a report in the Indianapolis Star

Communiques on topics from an FBI update on men arrested on terrorism charges to the security gates at the governor's mansion were included in the emails released to the IndyStar in answer to a public records request, the publication reported.

While current Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb released more than 30 pages of Pence's AOL records, his office withheld some emails due to their confidential or sensitive nature. 

"Similar to previous governors, during his time as Governor of Indiana, Mike Pence maintained a state email account and a personal email account. As Governor, Mr. Pence fully complied with Indiana law regarding email use and retention," Pence's office told the IndyStar in a statement. "Government emails involving his state and personal accounts are being archived by the state consistent with Indiana law, and are being managed according to Indiana's Access to Public Records Act.”

The report also cited cybersecurity experts as saying a scammer last summer accessed the vice president's email and, posing as Pence, sent a plea to his contacts asking for money to help him and his wife leave the Philippines where they were purportedly vacationing. 

Get daily email updates

SC Media's daily must-read of the most current and pressing daily news

By clicking the Subscribe button below, you agree to SC Media Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.