National Archives loses Clinton-era data

WASHINGTON, May 21 (UPI) -- The National Archives lost a computer hard drive containing Clinton administration records, including personal data of staffers and visitors, officials said.

Archives officials say they don't know how many confidential records -- including Social Security numbers -- are on the external hard drive, CNN reported.

Congressional aides briefed on the matter said the drive had "more than 100,000" Social Security numbers, including one for a daughter of then-Vice President Al Gore, as well as Secret Service and White House operating procedures.

No national security information or original documents are on the drive, archive officials said.

The hard drive was seen last in the National Archive's complex in College Park, Md., sometime between last October and February, CNN reported. It was determined to be missing in March, prompting a search for the small, 2.5 pound device, the archives said. When the search proved fruitless, the inspector general's office opened a criminal investigation.

The archives has announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to its return.

U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., whose staff was briefed, said the House will conduct a hearing on the matter.

"If (the National Archives' staff) can't handle a hard drive that may be sensitive properly, we need to ask the question, will they handle the most secret materials properly?" Issa said.