Verizon Wireless has issued an apology to President-elect Barack Obama and says it is punishing the employees responsible for a breach into his privacy.

Lowell McAdam, CEO and president of the Basking Ridge-based company, acknowledges that a number of employees gained access to Obama's cell phone account without authorization. According to McAdam, all employees guilty of snooping have been suspended with pay while the company investigates the incidents.

Verizon refuses to release how many employees were involved and where they work. A company spokesman has also declined to comment whether any of the guilty parties could lose their job.

No voicemails or e-mails were accessed in the privacy breach. An Obama aide is downplaying the incident, saying the situation is not a big deal since the account was for an old cell phone no longer in use.