Clinton Hard Drvie Missing

National Archives Offers Reward of Up to $50,000 for Return of a Missing Clinton Administration Hard Drive


On May 29, 2009, the National Archives and Records Administration announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the recovery of a Western Digital MY BOOK external hard drive (2 terabytes) containing copies of backup tapes from the Executive Office of the President of the Clinton Administration.

The National Archives Office of the Inspector General, with the assistance of the United States Secret Service, is investigating the whereabouts of the missing MY BOOK. Based on currently available evidence, the external hard drive was discovered missing on or about March 24, 2009, from a processing room at the National Archives College Park, MD, facility. Because some of the information on the missing drive was from offices that engaged in personnel related work and maintained electronic files containing privacy information, the external drive contains personally identifying information (PII), including names and social security numbers. At this time, the total amount of identifying information that was maintained on the hard drive has not yet been determined.

At this stage of the investigation, there is no evidence that the missing MY BOOK was targeted for the information contained on the hard drive, nor can it be determined that the loss is the result of theft. However, the primary objective of the investigation is the recovery of the external hard drive.

Anyone who can provide information leading to the recovery of the external hard drive containing PII from the Clinton Administration should call the USSS Washington Field Office at 202-406-8800. This Hot Line is manned and operated by representatives of the United States Secret Service. A cash reward of up to $50,000 will be paid for information provided that leads to the recovery of the MY BOOK external hard drive.