Corbett Aide Explains Twitter Subpoena

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett's office tells Fox 29 it can't comment on two Twitter users it subpoenaed, but the public find out on Friday why it took the unusual action.

Spokesman Kevin Harley told Fox 29 that the AG's office “can’t comment because of an on-going grand jury investigation in Dauphin County.”

But he did say, “the subpoena has nothing to do with criticizing an elected official.”

Harley also the subpoena's intent will be made clear when a former government aide, Brett Cott, is sentenced on Friday in connection with the Bonusgate scandal.

Cott is one of three people who were convicted of public-corruption charges in March after a trial that lasted nearly two months.

Cott was an aide to former Rep. Mike Veon, D-Beaver, who also was convicted of multiple counts.

The American Civil Liberties Union is helping the Twitter used subpoenaed in a request to seek their identities.

ACLU attorney Vic Walczak said Thursday he would file a motion to quash the subpoena if an agreement with the attorney general's office can't be worked out.

Walczak says using courts to unmask political critics is unconstitutional retaliation.

Corbett is the Republican nominee for governor.

On the blog Tech Crunch, Corbett’s battle with Twitter is detailed.

One of the bloggers told Tech Crunch that bloggers had legal rights to criticize public officials.

“We believe in the constitutionally-protected right of Americans to criticize public officials anonymously,” the blogger said.

The subpoena issued to Twitter Inc. May 6 by a statewide investigative grand jury seeks information about Twitter users "bfbarbie" and "CasablancaPA."

Both users have been critical of the investigation by Corbett's office into the use of public resources to run political campaigns.

A Twitter attorney says it discloses user information only in "limited circumstances."