FBI Director James Comey asked the Justice Department this weekend to publicly deny President Trump’s unsubstantiated claim that President Obama had ordered a wiretap on Donald Trump during his presidential campaign.
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Not even members of Congress are immune to the NSA’s wide surveillance reach. During a House Judiciary Committee meeting Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General James Cole admitted that the NSA “probably” collects phone records of lawmakers and their staff, the National Journal reports. But Justice Department official said the information isn’t used without…
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Since Edward Snowden fled his home in Hawaii several months ago after leaking sensitive NSA information, he has lived a rather solitary life. Now he’s getting a visit from his father, Lon Snowden, of Pennsylvania, the New York Times reports. Lon Snowden arrived Thursday morning at Sheremetyevo Airport in Russia, where his…
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com The Obama administration is close to stiffening surveillance laws to make it easier to wiretap people who use the Internet, the New York Times reports. Saying it’s much easier to wiretap people using traditional phone services, FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III wants the federal government to extend the practice to monitor…
By Adam Cohen Time magazine We may all be getting a new Facebook friend soon: the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI wants to shift its wiretapping from old-school telephone lines to person-to-person platforms like email and instant messaging and even social media like Facebook. To help it make the switch, the FBI is asking…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com The FBI wants greater access. CNET reports that that the FBI is pushing for legislation to force social networks like Facebook and Twitter, email providers and peer-to-peer networks to become “wiretap friendly. CNET reports that the legislation would expand a current law for cell phone operators and broadband networks. To read…
By Ronald Kessler Newsmax.com Once again, members of Congress are putting our lives at risk by playing games with the USA Patriot Act. Because of opposition of Democrats and some Republicans, crucial components of the act are set to expire on May 27 after Congress agreed to a temporary extension. The provisions deal with roving…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com WASHINGTON — Jack Johnson, who in his final weeks as a county executive in suburban Washington got busted on a wiretap advising his wife to hide evidence as FBI agents knocked on the door, was indicted Monday on charges of conspiracy, extortion, tampering with a witness and evidence and taking more…
