Reading Email - Felony Offense?

[Morrigan]

I believed for a long time my boyfriend was cheating on me. I asked him, via email, if I could check up on him and he told me to do whatever I felt was necessary. So, I logged into his email. Since he WAS lying and has since been caught cheating, he is furious and screaming I comitted a federal offense and he is going to press charges. I say he has no grounds to stand on as he gave me permission. I did not hack his email, I had the password and simply downloaded it to my computer from his server. From what I've been able to read and understand about email laws, it's only a crime if I stole credit card numbers or the like or am his employer...neither I did. Which one of us is correct?

 

[Tracey]

He's an idiot. There is no privacy right to email & federal mail tampering laws do not apply. If they did, corporations could not read employee email sent from company computers, which they do all the time. He gave you permission & you didn't damage him. Ignore the bozo.

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This is not legal advice and you are not my client. Double check everything with your own attorney and your state's laws.