February 2011
Oral Arguments Delayed in ex-Rep. William Jefferson’s Appeal
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com Convicted ex-Rep. William Jefferson of money-in-the-freezer fame has had his fair share of disputes with the federal government. But this time around he’s got to be pleased with the government, which, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, has asked and gotten more time to file briefs in the case. After all,…
Senate Report Critical of FBI and Pentagon in Ft. Hood Shooting
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com WASHINGTON — A Senate report on the Fort Hood shooting takes a sharp shot at the FBI for failing to share critical information with military about shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the Associated Press reported. AP wrote that the report — to be released Thursday — also criticized the Pentagon for…
The Murders at Ann Arbor’s Veterans Hospital; What Went Right and What Ultimately Went Wrong in the Case
By Greg Stejskal ticklethewire.com ANN ARBOR, Mi. — In 1977, two nurses, Filipina Narciso and Leonora Perez, were convicted of poisoning patients at the Ann Arbor (Michigan) Veterans Administration Hospital (VAH) after one of the longest trials in U.S. history. The prosecution and verdict became a cause celebre in Ann Arbor, across the nation and…
An FBI Agent Looks Back at the Mysterious Murders at Ann Arbor’s Veterans Hospital; What Went Right and What Ultimately Went Wrong in the Case
Greg Stejskal served as an FBI agent for 31 years and retired as resident agent in charge of the Ann Arbor office. He was assigned to the FBI task force investigating the mystery in the mid-1970s. By Greg Stejskal ticklethewire.com ANN ARBOR, Mi. — In 1977, two nurses, Filipina Narciso and Leonora Perez, were convicted…
WikiLeak Cable Suggests Missing ex-FBI agent Robert Levinson was Imprisoned by Iranian Revolutionary Guard
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com WASHINGTON — A WikiLeaks cable suggests that missing ex-FBI agent Robert Levinson, who went missing in 2007 while working as a private investigator in the Persian Gulf, was being held — at least at one point — in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s prison, according to a report in the The Telegraph in…
Washington Post Editorial: Administration Reverses Proposal to Cut ATF Budget
By The Washington Post Editorial WASHINGTON — MANY PRESIDENTS, fearful of alienating the powerful gun lobby, have neglected the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Funding requests are often skimpy, making it that much more difficult for the emaciated agency to crack down on illegal sales and trafficking of firearms. The Obama administration…
Sen. Carl Levin Wants to Address Vulnerable Canadian-U.S. Border Security Issues
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com Most of nation’s border-anxiety seems to be focused on Mexico. But in northern states like Michigan, it’s a different story. Michigan Sen. Carl Levin, responding to a Government Accountability Office report pointing to potential threats from smugglers and terrorists, called for meetings to improve security at the Detroit-Windsor border, MLive.com reported….