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Updated: War of Words Heats Up in Controversy Over DEA’s Leonhart’s Criticism of Obama’s Remarks
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com The war on drugs has turned into a war of words. The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FlEOA)is publicly defending DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart, who criticized President Obama’s remarks downplaying the dangers of pot. He said it was no more dangerous than alcohol. The Marijuana Policy Project has called for her…
Feds Want to Give a Break to Close Kwame Kilpatrick Confidante Who Testified Against Him
Emma Bell/DOJ photo By Allan Lengel Deadline Detroit DETROIT — Emma Bell, Kwame Kilpatrick’s chief fundraiser who provided helpful testimony against the ex-Detroit mayor in last year’s corruption trial, should get a break in her sentencing Thursday in federal court for income tax evasion, federal prosecutors wrote. In a sentencing memorandum filed Monday, prosecutors Michael Bullotta and…
FBI Finds Errors in DNA Database, Raising Questions of its Fallibility in Court Cases
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com The FBI and New York State authorities have found scores of mistaken DNA profiles in the national database, showing that human error is ever-present, the New York Times reports. The FBI found about 170 profiles with probable errors, ranging from handwriting mistakes to interpretation errors by lab technicians. While the findings represent…
Top Secret Documents: NSA Targets Data from Smartphone Apps Like Angry Birds
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Just in case a terrorist is passing time playing Angry Birds, the NSA is trying to establish the technology to siphon information from the communication networks on smartphone apps, the Guardian reports, citing top secret documents. The information is useful because it allows the agency to mine large quantities of cell phone…
Boston Globe Editorial: FBI’s Designation of Clown Posse Fans As Gang Members is Clownish
By The Boston Globe Editorial Page Throughout their two decades on the charts, the hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse’s over-the-top theatrics and often violent lyrics have put off many listeners. The fact that many of their fans — who refer to themselves as Juggalos — show their devotion with clown makeup and elaborate tattoos…
Widespread Abuse of Overtime Alleged at Homeland Security Department
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com A whopping 95% of employees at the Department of Homeland Security’s offices in Northern Virginia are accused of hiking their pay by 25% through overtime abuse, the Washington Post reports, citing a report from the Office of Special Counsel. Special Counsel Carolyn N. Lerner said allegations found that CBP employees “improperly claim”…
Pro-Pot Group Calls for Obama to Fire DEA Chief Over Statements About Marijuana
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com The DEA is so out of step with the nation and President Obama on marijuana that the agency’s chief should be fired, a leading marijuana reform group said. The Huffington Post reports that the Marijuana Policy Project’s call for resignation comes after DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart spoke out firmly against marijuana legalization…
Parker: A Follow Up to My Column On DEA’s Michele Leonhart Criticizing the President About Pot
Ross Parker was chief of the criminal division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit for 8 years and worked as an AUSA for 28 in that office. This column is a follow up to one he wrote praising DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart for criticizing President Obama’s remarks about marijuana. By Ross Parker ticklethewire.com…