Digital Bulletin

U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee says his campaign's computer system has been "hacked into," and the FBI is investigating.

The campaign's Web site has been "compromised," and e-mails have been "stolen," the Rhode Island Republican said today.

But Chafee staff members don't believe the incident was politically motivated.

Chafee is involved in a tight Republican primary race with Cranston Mayor Stephen P. Laffey that has attracted national attention. The primary election is next Tuesday, Sept. 12.

Chafee was interrupted during a telephone interview with a Journal columnist this morning and informed of the situation.

The campaign Web site and e-mail system were hacked from a remote location sometime between midnight and 10 a.m. today, campaign manager Ian Lang and Chafee Senate spokesman Stephen Hourahan confirmed at the senator's campaign headquarters later today.

The staff members say they think they know who did it, and they do not believe it was politically motivated, but they would not elaborate.

Staff members at Chafee's Warwick campaign headquarters say they could not access the site for a time this morning, and they could not send or receive e-mails. (Projo.com was able to view the site late this morning; at a glance, nothing seemed out of order.)

The senator was in Washington, D.C., but is returning to Rhode Island today as previously planned. His campaign headquarters is on 2364 Post Road, Warwick.

Chafee said, "Hopefully, we can get to the bottom of it" and apprehend who ever is responsible.

-- With reports from Journal political columnist M. Charles Bakst and Journal staff writer Katherine Gregg