SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (AP) -- An Illinois government employee is in hot water for using a state computer for repeated attacks on the management and stocks of several small companies.
Comptroller Dan Hynes' office said Tuesday it has disciplined David W. Pippy for misusing the state computer.
It has also taken away his Internet access and referred the matter to financial regulators.
The companies he targeted want tougher punishment.
They accuse Pippy of scheming to drive down the value of their stock, which sells for only pennies a share.
Pippy declined to answer questions but denied any scheme to profit from his comments.
In hundreds of Internet posts, Pippy suggested dishonest executives were misleading investors.
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