Deletions Illegal, But Won’t Be Prosecuted

The Information Commissioner’s office in Great Britain has ruled that the East Anglia scientists who are at the heart of the global warming scandal acted illegally when they deleted emails rather than produce them in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. They will not be prosecuted, however, apparently because the law has a six-month statute of limitation. The linked news story speculates that the finding of illegality will make it difficult for East Anglia’s Phil Jones, the central figure in the Climategate aspect of the scandal, to return to the post from which he is now on a leave of absence.