Trevor Timm
New DOJ model: Harass and spy on journalist for years, make him spend a fortune in legal fees, drop case last second https://twitter.com/joshgerstein/status/567757786408361984 …
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Obama Administration Lenient on Whistleblowers and Leakers, Holder Claims
Obama Administration Lenient on Whistleblowers and Leakers, Holder Claims
Attorney General Eric Holder on Tuesday defended his agency’s record on unauthorized disclosures, saying that it could have pursued more whistleblowers than it has.
“We have tried to be appropriately sensitive in bringing those cases that warranted prosecution,” he said. “We have turned away, I mean, turned away substantially greater number of cases that were presented to us where prosecution was sought.”
Holder was responding to reporters’ questions at an event at the National Press Club.
In a related matter, the outgoing Attorney General declined to answer a query about a possible plea deal involving former National Security Agency contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden.
“I’ll simply say no comment,” he remarked, to laughter from the audience.
Speaking more broadly on the issue of Espionage Act prosecutions and leaks, Holder said that policies formulated last summer and implemented during the case involving New York Times reporter James Risen and the now-imprisoned former CIA employee Jeffrey Sterling exemplified “how the Justice Department can proceed.”
Risen did not appear to be amused by the claim. He took to Twitter to retweet an observation made by Freedom of the Press Executive Director Trevor Timm.
“New DOJ model: Harass and spy on journalist for years, make him spend a fortune in legal fees, drop case last second,” Timm had tweeted.
Another person affected by the Obama administration’s dealings with intelligence community whistleblowers, too, expressed dismay on Twitter with the statement. Former NSA analyst Thomas Drake questioned whether it was actually a model “suppressing w’blowers & NatSec press reprting.”
“Wudda sed same in my case if jury had convicted me?” he rhetorically asked, abbreviating his language to express frustration in the confines of Twitter’s 140 character per-post constraints.
Holder stressed, however, that the cases have been instrumental in targeting “people who are disclosing, for instance, the identities of people who work in our intelligence agencies.”
“I also think there’s a question for you all, for members of the press,” he continued. “As we’ve asked ourselves when it comes to national surveillance, simply because we have the ability to do certain things, should we?”
Holder went on to describe a hypothetical scenario–“an extreme example, perhaps unfair,” he noted—involving a reporter and “the existence of the Manhattan project.”
“Is that something that should have been disclosed,” he asked—a question that would probably be answered with a qualified “yes” from American historians like the late Howard Zinn, who argued that hundreds of thousands of civilians died needlessly and Cold War hysteria was sparked as a result of the decision to drop the bombs on Japan, in maneuvers that revealed the power of nuclear weaponry to the world.
“We are not in a time of war,” Holder added–a comment that additionally would raise eyebrows among Wikileaks and Snowden, who have been accused of having “blood on their hands” for informing the world what the US government has secretly done in the name of the American public.
“There’s a question the members of the press should ask about whether or not the disclosure of the information has a negative impact on the national security of the nation,” Holder added, claiming that the decision to publish sensitive information is not up to the government—a statement that glosses over his own role overseeing the grand jury investigation of Wikileaks that is still ongoing, as The Washington Post noted last month.
As The Sentinel reported earlier Tuesday, the event had something of a last-chance public relations management feel to it, with the outgoing chief prosecutor also claiming that US Attorneys had three months to internally make the case to bring criminal or civil charges against Wall Street bankers for fraudulent activities that contributed to last decade’s mammoth financial collapse—an argument they have, to this point, failed to make, Holder said. Contrary to those claims, however, are reports in one instance alone that detail how a federal prosecutor in Sacramento was ready to file civil charges against JPMorgan in 2013 before Holder personally intervened to secure a settlement with the bank.
The Obama Administration Is the Greatest Enemy of Press Freedom in a Generation’: Read This NYTimes Reporter’s Epic Rant Against Obama and Eric Holder
The Obama Administration Is the Greatest Enemy of Press Freedom in a Generation’: Read This NYTimes Reporter’s Epic Rant Against Obama and Eric Holder
Government transparency may have ranked high on the list of
campaign promises made by Barack Obama — but years later, it seems the
government could be more repressive than ever before.
Just ask this New York Times journalist.
Times reporter James Risen went off on the Obama administration’s press freedom record in a Twitter rant late Tuesday.
It all started with a link to this District Sentinel article about Attorney General Eric Holder defending the Obama administration’s record on whistleblower retaliation, which Risen annotated with a simple, ”WTF?”
Risen then went on an epic rant about the government, calling out Holder by name many times and saying that, “The Obama Administration is the greatest enemy of press freedom in a generation,” and “Eric Holder leaves behind a wrecked First Amendment.”
Risen ended his broadside with a promise to continue fighting on behalf of his son and “press freedom” throughout the United States.
Risen knows a thing or two about the government’s stance on leaks and whistleblowers.
For the past seven years, he’s been embroiled in a legal battle over whether the Justice Department could compel him to reveal the identities of his confidential government sources.
Risen fought all the way to the Supreme Court and lost before Holder said he’d back off and not force Risen to out his sources.
—
Follow Zach Noble (@thezachnoble) on Twitter
Just ask this New York Times journalist.
Times reporter James Risen went off on the Obama administration’s press freedom record in a Twitter rant late Tuesday.
It all started with a link to this District Sentinel article about Attorney General Eric Holder defending the Obama administration’s record on whistleblower retaliation, which Risen annotated with a simple, ”WTF?”
Risen then went on an epic rant about the government, calling out Holder by name many times and saying that, “The Obama Administration is the greatest enemy of press freedom in a generation,” and “Eric Holder leaves behind a wrecked First Amendment.”
Risen ended his broadside with a promise to continue fighting on behalf of his son and “press freedom” throughout the United States.
Risen knows a thing or two about the government’s stance on leaks and whistleblowers.
For the past seven years, he’s been embroiled in a legal battle over whether the Justice Department could compel him to reveal the identities of his confidential government sources.
Risen fought all the way to the Supreme Court and lost before Holder said he’d back off and not force Risen to out his sources.
—
Follow Zach Noble (@thezachnoble) on Twitter
Obama: Extremists Have "Legitimate Grievances"
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As the White House kicks off day-two of a summit on
combating generic violent extremism, President Obama has published an
op-ed in the Los Angeles Times titled, "Our fight against violent extremism."
While the administration has overtly refused to specifically name
"Islamic" terror, the piece finally acknowledges (albeit inadvertently)
the regular existence of violence inside Islam. Still, Islamic extremism
isn't specifically named and won't be during the three-day conference
at the White House this week.
But the President touting a victory about core Al Qaeda isn't the most bizarre part of the piece. Further down, Obama claims those engaging in violent extremism have "legitimate grievances" that must be addressed.
And finally, despite admitting he isn't aware of all the facts, President Obama implies that the three Muslim students shot dead in Chapel Hill last week were killed as a result of their faith. The killer was an atheist who was enraged over a parking dispute.
This post has been updated with an additional block quote.
The United States has made significant gains against terrorism. We've decimated the core al Qaeda leadership, strengthened homeland security and worked to prevent another large-scale attack like 9/11.Claiming "core Al-Qaeda has been decimated" is extremely misleading. While former leaders like Osama bin Laden are dead, Al Qaeda has not been decimated. In fact, it's grown or "evolved" as Obama argues and recent attacks in western cities like Paris and Copenhagen display their comeback.
At the same time, the threat has evolved. The al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen actively plots against us. Since 9/11, terrorists have murdered U.S. citizens overseas, including in the attacks in Benghazi, Libya. Here in the United States, Americans have been killed at Ft. Hood and during the Boston Marathon.
Groups like al Qaeda and ISIL promote a twisted interpretation of religion that is rejected by the overwhelming majority of the world's Muslims. The world must continue to lift up the voices of Muslim clerics and scholars who teach the true peaceful nature of Islam. We can echo the testimonies of former extremists who know how terrorists betray Islam. We can help Muslim entrepreneurs and youths work with the private sector to develop social media tools to counter extremist narratives on the Internet.
But the President touting a victory about core Al Qaeda isn't the most bizarre part of the piece. Further down, Obama claims those engaging in violent extremism have "legitimate grievances" that must be addressed.
Governments that deny human rights play into the hands of extremists who claim that violence is the only way to achieve change. Efforts to counter violent extremism will only succeed if citizens can address legitimate grievances through the democratic process and express themselves through strong civil societies.What, exactly, does Obama mean when he says "legitimate grievances"? The grievances Al Qaeda and ISIS hold are against infidels and Muslims who don't go far enough to wage jihad on the West. These "grievances" aren't economic, despite what the State Department would like us to believe.
And finally, despite admitting he isn't aware of all the facts, President Obama implies that the three Muslim students shot dead in Chapel Hill last week were killed as a result of their faith. The killer was an atheist who was enraged over a parking dispute.
We do not yet know why three young people, who were Muslim Americans, were brutally killed in Chapel Hill, N.C. But we know that many Muslim Americans across our country are worried and afraid.The summit on generic violent extremism kicked off yesterday and will continue throughout the week at the White House.
This post has been updated with an additional block quote.
Fight Against Extremism a Battle for 'Hearts and Minds': Obama
Inform
Exposed: Obama’s Strategy To Intentionally Bring Terrorists Into The United States
Exposed: Obama’s Strategy To Intentionally Bring Terrorists Into The United States
I hope the next administration is prepared to vet, investigate, and turn over rocks to eradicate this terrorist nemesis that Obama has implanted into our wonderful country.
Do you remember the children who had to be
saved? You know, the ones who were attracted like moths to the flame for
free entry into the United States due to persecution? Last I heard, the U.S. was actually flying planes down to Central America in order to fly the children directly here into our country.
Yes, many of these kids did need help; but it’s not our responsibility to feed, clothe, and provide homes to the world.
The problem is, many of these children were actually adults masquerading as children. Many of them were terrorists. These terrorists are now in the United States, and we have no idea where they are.
ISIS has recently bragged
it has sleeper cells in the U.S., ready to strike at a moments notice.
Isn’t that special? The effort to bring the children into the U.S. was
not intended to be a humanitarian effort.
No, the real agenda was to allow terrorists in and to gain more voters for the Democratic Party.
This is also why the Obama administration has refused to seal the border. Report after report has shone light on the fact that terrorists are crossing our southern border and disappearing into the general population.
The Washington Times reported
recently that 4 Turkish terrorists were apprehended after crossing into
the country from the south. These are just the ones that were caught.
Just imagine how many have gotten through and disappeared without a
trace, waiting to blow up the school or daycare center where your
grandchildren go to be safe.
Today, we have news that the Obama administration wants to fly Syrian refugees into the United States from the fighting in the Middle East. ABC News reports:
Yes, many of these kids did need help; but it’s not our responsibility to feed, clothe, and provide homes to the world.
The problem is, many of these children were actually adults masquerading as children. Many of them were terrorists. These terrorists are now in the United States, and we have no idea where they are.
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No, the real agenda was to allow terrorists in and to gain more voters for the Democratic Party.
This is also why the Obama administration has refused to seal the border. Report after report has shone light on the fact that terrorists are crossing our southern border and disappearing into the general population.
Advertisement-content continues below
Today, we have news that the Obama administration wants to fly Syrian refugees into the United States from the fighting in the Middle East. ABC News reports:
Top U.S. counterterrorism officials say they worry a potential terrorist could be hiding among refugees who are looking to come to the United States after escaping the brutal war in Syria. “It’s clearly a population of concern,” the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Nicholas Rasmussen, told the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday.Here we go again: same story, same agenda. As I have said before, it won’t be until after Obama and his liberal friends in Congress who support him and his policies leave office that we uncover the damage he has wrought to this country. I hope the next administration is prepared to vet, investigate, and turn over rocks to eradicate this terrorist nemesis that Obama has implanted into our wonderful country.
Read more at http://www.westernjournalism.com/exposed-obamas-strategy-intentionally-bring-terrorists-united-states/#jgP4RhQ4pvGmKyXp.99
Israel Approves $46 Million Plan To Absorb All European Jews Following Muslim Terror Attacks
Israel Approves $46 Million Plan To Absorb All European Jews Following Muslim Terror Attacks
“We are bracing ourselves and calling for a mass immigration from Europe,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday.
“I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.” Isaiah 46:13 (KJV)Benjamin Netanyahu made a truly stunning announcement today as he issued the call for all of Europe’s Jews to come home to Israel. The bible clearly declares in the last days that all Israel will be regathered in their biblical homeland, and today’s announcement goes a long way towards fulfilling that.
The Israeli cabinet on Sunday approved a $46 million plan
to finance the arrival of thousands of Jewish people expected to
immigrate from Europe, following a number of anti-Semitic attacks on the
continent in recent months.
Announced just hours after a gunman in Copenhagen, Denmark, fatally shot a man outside
a synagogue as part of twin terrorist attacks, Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu said his country was ready to welcome Jews “home.”“I would like to say to all of Europe’s Jews, and Jews everywhere, Israel is the home of every Jew,” he said in a Facebook post.While much of eastern Ukraine has been left devastated by civil war, France and Belgium have been the target of anti-Semitic attacks in recent months. In Paris last month, four Jewish men were killed inside a kosher supermarket by an Islamist gunman, while four people were killed at a Jewish museum in Brussels in May, 2014.
“This wave of attacks is expected to continue,” Netanyahu told his Cabinet. “Jews deserve security in every country, but we say to our Jewish brothers and sisters, Israel is your home.”
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