And it should be pointed out that even if the information hadn't been given

to people not authorized, the fact that they ran his information through the system at all is a crime. Not a proper, legal reason to do so.

And please note the coverup attempt:
The senior manager would not learn about "Joe" for another week, when she said her boss informed her and directed her to write an e-mail stating her computer check was a legitimate inquiry.

The reason Niekamp said she was given for checking if there was a child-support case on Wurzelbacher does not match the reason given by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
...
On Oct. 23, Niekamp said Doug Thompson, deputy director for child support, told her she had checked on "Joe the Plumber." Thompson "literally demanded" that she write an e-mail to the agency's chief privacy officer stating she checked the case for child-support purposes, she said.
These people damn well knew they were misusing the system and breaking the law, and did it anyway, without hesitation. They should be fired, and criminal charges filed.