Inspectors general are the watchdogs of federal agencies like the FBI, but they have been stymied by a bureau that has declined to turn over critical records during investigations.
By Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com The trial for a prominent New York lawmaker accused of lying repeatedly to the FBI began this week. Jurors heard opening statements Tuesday in the case of Sen. Thomas Libous of Binghamton, the deputy majority leader, the Associated Press reports. Libous is accused of lying to the FBI about arranging a…
By Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com The embattled TSA has a new leader. The Senate confirmed Peter Neffenger on Monday with an 81-1 vote, hoping that strong leadership can improve nagging security problems at the nation’s airports, USA Today reports. Neffenger used to serve as vice admiral of the Coast Guard. The Senate criticized President Obama for…
By Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com President Obama’s nominee to lead the TSA was approved by a Senate committee following the enforcement of the Commerce Committee less than two week earlier, Bloomberg reports. The Senate Homeland Security Committee approved Coast Guard Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger on a voice vote. The nomination comes at a strenuous period for…
By Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Federal agents would be barred from using tax dollars to crack down on medical marijuana operations in states where it’s legal. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 22-8 to approve the measure, which would block the Department of Justice and DEA from using federal funds to interrupt medical marijuana programs, Huffington Post…
By Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com The Senate on Tuesday ended the NSA’s controversial bulk phone-records program but reauthorized most of the Patriot Act that expired over the weekend. President Obama signed the measure, which passed the Senate with a 67-32 vote, the Wall Street Journal reports. The FBI warned that the move would hamper agents who…
By Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com The U.S. government has fewer tools to fight terrorism after key provisions of the Patriot Act expired late Sunday despite a last-minute push by some Senators. CNN reports that the expiration ends the NSA’s controversial bulk data collection program. The NSA had been collecting phone metadata on millions of Americans. Law enforcement…
By Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Federal investigators are worried they are about to lose surveillance tools that have been valuable in the fight against terrorism. The Associated Press reports that the surveillance is part of the controversial Patriot Act that offered more investigative tools. But those tools are at risk because they are set to expire…
