Basking Ridge, N.J. - Verizon Wireless (NYSE: VZ) admitted late Thursday that several of its employees broke company rules by accessing and viewing President-elect Barack Obama's personal cell phone account.

The account, which didn't contain any email or data services, has been inactive for several months.

Reuters reported that the contents of Obama's voicemail messages were not breached by the employees, according to an Obama aide.

"All employees who have accessed the account -- whether authorized or not -- have been put on immediate leave, with pay," said Lowell McAdam, the president and CEO of Verizon Wireless.

"As the circumstances of each individual employee's access to the account are determined, the company will take appropriate actions."

McAdam said that employees who are found to have improperly accessed the account will "face appropriate disciplinary action."

Related Links:
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/081120/ny47934.html?.v=1

http://snipurl.com/68wjd (Reuters)