More questions, no answers

Each day brings more questions and no answers as Bredesen's Watergate unfolds. Here are some of the unanswered questions we have

• Why did the administration wait so long to begin an investigation? The Department of Safety admits to knowing about the illegal, unauthorized background checks in May. Yet, the background checks continued through July 3, and the department didn't start an investigation until July 2. (These are the administration's claims and nothing was made public until media reports last week.)

• Why did the department wait so long to take any action? Lt. Shirley was not placed on administrative leave until three months after the administration claims to have learned of the illegal activities.

• Why has the administration taken so long to notify victims of the illegal activities? Bredesen and his administration have taken nearly four months to begin contacting victims based upon when they claimed to have learned of the violations. (That's assuming they have started calling them.) Even the administration admits the information contained in the background checks such as driver's license numbers, Social Security numbers, and addresses is enough to steal someone's identity.
  

• How many illegal and unauthorized background checks really took place? Reports range from up to 300 to the administration's claims of 182.

• Who are the victims? The administration is stonewalling on releasing the names.

• Who told Lt. Ronnie Shirley to conduct the illegal background checks? Lt. Shirley says he was doing his job, and we know some of the background checks were done at the request of other state employees including individuals outside the Highway Patrol.

• What has been done with the information? There's evidence that Lt. Shirley spied on co-workers, other state employees, journalists, entertainers, and political opponents.