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SECRECY & THE SECURITY STATE - page 30

Feinstein Calls on White House To Release Guantanamo Closure Plan

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A top Democrat in the Senate pressed the Obama Administration to put forward its proposal to shut down the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay. In an op-ed published Wednesday in The New York Times, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), said that Congress should assist in the effort by removing provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that block prisoner transfers. “Senator McCain has called on the White House to deliver a plan to close Guantánamo. I join with him,” Feinstein wrote. “In particular, we need…

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Defying White House Veto, Congress Maintains Guantanamo Restrictions In NDAA

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An effort to continue preventing the Obama administration from relocating Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States has remained in the latest iteration of the annual defense policy bill finalized this week. House Republican Leadership announced Tuesday that the chamber will seek to pass the restrictions. They had been cited last month by the President as a problematic aspect of the must-pass bill when he vetoed it. The primary change in the latest National Defense Authorization Act is less money for the Department of Defense. The…

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More Evidence “Ferguson Effect” Is Pseudo-Science: Fear of Crime at New Low

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Someone forgot to tell the public about the “Ferguson Effect.” Despite high-profile accusations in Washington that increased nationwide scrutiny of police officers has led to a crime wave, Americans are reporting feeling safe at record levels. The results of a Gallup poll published on Thursday showed the lowest percentage of respondents in fifteen years fearing three types of break-ins. The number of survey participants fearing muggings in 2015 also dropped by five points to 25 percent; a ten-year low. “Worry about each of these crimes…

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House Hearing On Prison Extremism Treads Dangerously Close To Unconstitutional Territory

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Witnesses and lawmakers at a House Homeland Security subcommittee hearing on Wednesday repeatedly blasted the proceedings as an attack on free expression. Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), the chairman of the panel, convened the hearing to focus on violent extremism in US prisons, noting that hundreds of individuals have been imprisoned since 9/11 on homegrown terrorism charges. “We cannot forget about these individuals once they’re incarcerated,” Rep. King said. “We’ve never been faced with such large numbers of terror inmates before.” The subcommittee’s ranking member, Rep.…

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The Tax Man Has His Own “Stingray”

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Controversial cell phone surveillance technology has been found in the possession of another government agency not previously known to have it: the Internal Revenue Service. A week after federal law enforcement officials with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security testified on Capitol Hill about new regulations intended to bring more legal oversight and transparency over law enforcement officers’ use of cell site simulators, also known as “stingrays,” a new report revealed the Treasury Department also has the technology in its employ. Invoices obtained by The…

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FBI Director Defends Baltimore Spy Flights, Says It’s Helpful To Know “Where Are People Gathering”

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FBI Surveillance flights over Baltimore and Ferguson as residents of those cities engaged in civil disobedience against racially-motivated police violence were lawful and useful, bureau Director James Comey claimed Thursday. Comey said that the missions were flown at the behest of local law enforcement in each case, as demonstrations raged against the killings of Michael Brown and Freddie Gray by city cops. “If there is tremendous turbulence in a community, it’s useful to everybody—civilians and law enforcement—to have a view of what’s going on,” Comey…

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Lawmakers Highlight Weaknesses In New Federal Cell Phone Surveillance Guidelines

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Federal law enforcement officials were forced to admit that there are shortcomings in new policies implemented to address privacy concerns related to airplane-mounted surveillance devices. Justice Department Office of Legal Policy head Elana Tyrangiel acknowledged that the rules on cell site simulators do not apply to local police departments, except on occasions when they are working in conjunction with federal authorities. She said that it would be “complicated and difficult” for the DOJ to oversee the use of the so-called “stingrays” at the state and…

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D.E.A. Gave Bonuses to Agents Probed and Disciplined for Misconduct, Violated Its Own Policy

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Ten out of fourteen Drug Enforcement Administration employees accused of sexual harassment and misconduct were given bonuses and time off in contravention of DEA policy. The employees received the rewards “even though they had been subject to discipline for significant misconduct within three years” or were the subjects of ongoing inquiries, according to a report published Thursday by the Justice Department inspector general. “DEA policy generally prohibits employees from receiving promotions, awards, or other favorable personnel actions for a period of 3 years after being…

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Disagreements Over Guantanamo, Pentagon “Slush Fund” to Precipitate Obama’s First N.D.A.A. Veto

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The White House will veto a critical annual defense policy poll, claiming the legislation contained “irresponsible” spending gimmicks and onerous burdens restricting the administration’s efforts to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. In a photo op Thursday afternoon, President Obama will cast his fifth veto since taking office—the fewest of any President since James Garfield. It will be the first time he wields the authority to reject a National Defense Authorization Act, despite a lengthy history of regular disagreements with Congressional Republicans over national…

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N.R.A. Still Viewed Positively By Public That Also Disapproves of Its Extremism

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Americans view the National Rifle Association more positively now than after the Sandy Hook Massacre, according to the results of a Gallup poll released Thursday. The NRA received a 58 percent “favorable” rating from survey respondents, up from 54 percent in late December 2012. The results of the poll may be somewhat dispiriting to gun control advocates. “In a year plagued with mass shootings, including a recent tragedy at a community college in Oregon, there has been a national debate as to whether the NRA, with…

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Threat Overblown? Only Six Americans Have Tried To Join ISIL In Last Three Months

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The Director of the FBI informed lawmakers Wednesday that even fewer Americans from before have been trying to join the ranks of the Islamic State (ISIL) in the past three months. James Comey said in testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee that only six individuals attempted to hook up with the group over the last 100 days. “We are seeing fewer people attempt to travel to join ISIL in Syria,” Comey claimed. “We were seeing nine per month in all the months before that,”…

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