We have yet to hear from the White House press office in response to our request for a comment on our reader’s report that a major network problem has hit the computers used by staff in the Executive Office of the President. Our source, however, updated us with the latest on the issue overnight. He believes it is expected that news of the problem (whatever it is) will soon break publicly, if not today. Describing the problem as a “major data loss,” he believes that repair is expected to take weeks.
From what he understands, this is a serious problem. He asserts: “We are potentially talking OMB, USTR, ONDCP, OPM, and the White House itself(!). Top-line executive deliberations. Gone. Stolen? No idea.”
Signing off with my name, cell phone number and site URL, as I did yesterday, I emailed the White House press office again this morning at 8:30 a.m. (EDT) to follow up:
I wrote yesterday morning with a request for comment on a report of network failure affecting the computers of the Executive Office of the President. The deadline for response was 3:30 pm yesterday. I called to confirm receipt of my message yesterday afternoon. I was assured that the message had been received and forwarded to the appropriate spokesman for response.
Nevertheless, as of this morning, I have received no response whatsoever. I don’t believe this is a particularly difficult question. Would you please let me know when I may expect a response?
As of 4:00 p.m. (EDT) this afternoon, we have been unable to confirm our reader’s report or elicit a response from the White House. I called the White House press office again this afternoon and was assured that my messages have been received and forwarded for response, although they will offer no time when a response can be expected. It’s now been two business days that we’ve been waiting for a response. Sorry about that, I’m sure.
They may have their hands full with inquiries triggered by the news of the day, of which there is plenty. I don’t know. For whatever reason, I take it at this point that we are not going to receive a response today. If/when one is received we will post it immediately.
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