(Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
It’s been a little more than four years since the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away, but before her death, when her health, well-being, and ability to continue serving on the Supreme Court were matters of high public interest, a former health care worker illegally accessed her medical records and published them online. The perpetrator was sentenced earlier this week.
As noted by the Associated Press, Trent Russell, 34, of Bellevue, Nebraska, was convicted earlier this year of illegally accessing health care records and destroying or altering records. Russell worked as a transplant coordinator and through his work had access to hospital records, which led to his discovery and reported dissemination of Ginsburg’s medical information. Here are additional details, from the AP:
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Prosecutors said Russell disclosed the health records on forums that trafficked in antisemitic conspiracy theories, including conspiracy theories that Ginsburg was dead, but Russell’s motivations for his actions were unclear. Indeed, Russell himself never admitted that he accessed the records, at one point suggesting that perhaps his cat walked across the keyboard in a way that mistakenly called up Ginsburg’s data.
Russell’s excuses and refusal to accept responsibility prompted blistering critiques from prosecutors, who sought a 30-month sentence.
“He offered completely implausible excuses with a straight face,” prosecutor Zoe Bedell said.
Russell’s lawyer requested a sentence of probation or home detention; instead, Judge Michael Nachmanoff (E.D. Va.) senteced him to 24 months in prison, referring to his crime as “truly despicable conduct.” Nachmanoff said that Russell’s lying exacerbated his predicament, saying, “You chose to blame your cat.”
It is unknown at this time whether Russell will appeal.
Health care worker gets 2 years for accessing Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s medical records [Associated Press]
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Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on X/Twitter and Threads or connect with her on LinkedIn.