HP probe expanded by House panel [Video]

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A U.S. government panel has asked a corporate ethics lawyer from Hewlett-Packard (HP) to testify in its Sept. 28 hearing on the company’s use of “pretexting” to spy on journalists, board members and other employees.

The investigative unit of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee announced Wednesday that it has asked HP Senior Counsel Kevin Hunsaker and Fred Adler, a company computer security investigator, to join a growing list of witnesses.

[ Follow the HP spying scandal as it unfolded in our story timeline. ]

The subcommittee had also previously requested testimony from outgoing HP Chairwoman Patricia Dunn, HP General Counsel Ann Baskins, HP Global Security Manager Anthony Gentilucci, outside attorney Larry Sonsini and outside investigators.

The practice of “pretexting” usually involves pretending to be a person in order to obtain that person’s personal information. An HP spokesman declined to comment.

Up until now, Dunn has insisted she merely initiated the probe of boardroom leaks, …