News Story
Law Professor Says Leave Patriot Act Intact: “The Act Works”
By Nathan A. Sales Christian Science Monitor ARLINGTON, Va. — Remember when the USA Patriot Act was seen as a common-sense counterterrorism tool? Congress enacted the law shortly after the 9/11 attacks by large bipartisan majorities. It wasn’t even close. And for good reason: The Patriot Act made relatively modest changes to the law as…
Nevada U.S. Attorney Greg Brower Figures He’ll Get the Boot
Some U.S. Attorneys haven’t waited to get the boot. Some hope to stay. And some figure they’ll get the boot and are passing around resumes. By MARTHA BELLISLE Reno Gazette-Journal RENO, Nevada — As the Obama administration takes over, Nevada’s U.S. attorney is looking for a new job, though he has not been asked to…
Judge Rules that Border Agent in Arizona Used Excessive Force in Fatal Shooting
This was an interesting ruling. The judge ruled that a U.S. Border Patrol agent used excessive force when he fatally shot an illegal immigrant. At the same time, he reduced the award from $1 million to $350,000 because the guy was running from law enforcement. The reduction in money seems to say the agent was…
Feds to Fight Judge’s Order to Release Documents in Eliot Spitzer Probe
Ok. There’s two levels of interest when it comes to these documents. One level: Did the government have justification to go as far as it did to get wiretaps and follow Eliot Spitzer to the landmark hotel, the Mayflower, in Washington? The second level is purely fodder for the tabloids: Juicy details of the underground…
New Head of ICE Has Far More Experience than Predecessor
Sounds like a good trade off, replacing the former head of ICE, who was well-connected but had little experience with someone who is less connected but more experienced. Not that it hurts to have connections here in Washington. But it shouldn’t override key things like experience. By AllGov If John Morton is confirmed as the…
Violent Mexico Drug Cartels Reaching into Canada
The violent Mexican drug wars are spilling over the border into the U.S., particularly in border states. But now Canada is acknowledging that the violent activities are encroaching on the Canadian landscape. Now the question is: What to do? COLIN FREEZE AND MARINA JIMÉNEZ Toronto Globe and Mail TORONTO — Mexico’s war on the drug…
Agreement Clears Way for Karl Rove and Harriet Miers to Testify in U.S. Atty Firings
Clearly the firings of 9 U.S. Attorneys during the Bush Administration was a low point for the Justice Department during that era. But just as shameful has been the efforts made by Bush Aides Karl Rove and Harriet Miers to avoid testifying before Congress to help clear up some questions. Finally something has been worked…
Congressman Rush Holt Wants an Anthrax Commission to Investigate the Investigation
Rep. Rush Holt By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com WASHINGTON – The anthrax caper just won’t go away. Rep Rush Holt (D-N.J.) on Tuesday introduced legislation to create a Congressional commission to investigate the government’s response to the 2001 anthrax attacks that left five dead and sickened 17. The legislation, the Anthrax Attacks Investigation Act of 2009,…