NEW YORK (AP)
...
But in one exchange the network
inadvertently left his screen name on. It was quickly discovered and removed, replaced by a version with the name redacted. But a blogger was able to retrieve the deleted file, go on a computer detective mission and uncover the former page's identity.
....
In a news conference Thursday, Istook praised his employee, said the former page would cooperate with investigators and asked reporters to leave him alone.
``This is a young man who is bright,'' Istook said. ``He is hard working. He does not deserve the public embarrassment that he's facing right now.
``I believe there is no justification for putting this young man in the national media spotlight when what he needs and deserves is Christian compassion,'' he added.
The blogger known as ``Wild Bill'' from the ``Passionate America'' site who discovered the former page's identity describes the computer detective mission in detail on his Web site. ABC has taken additional steps to make sure no one can access the deleted messages, a spokesman said.
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(this is from a post in the Foley thread at salon's tabletalk)