Controversies

Obama Administration Finally Agrees to Release Information about Immigration Fingerprinting Program

Initiated under the George W. Bush administration and expanded during the Obama years, S-Comm checks the fingerprints of arrestees at local jails against FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases for immigration problems. Since 2008, S-Comm has identified more than 918,000 possible problem cases—but has also ensnared citizens, as well as immigrants whose infractions are minor. read more

North Dakota Beats Arkansas for Most Extreme Anti-Abortion Bill

Although the Arkansas bill bans abortion after external detection of a pulse via abdominal ultrasound, which is generally possible at about 12 weeks of gestation, the North Dakota measure bans abortion after a pulse is “detectable” using “standard medical practice,” which could include intrusive transvaginal ultrasound, a procedure capable of detecting a pulse as early as 6 weeks of gestation. read more

VA Scientist Resigned over Alleged Cover-Up of Burn Pit Danger Data

“On the rare occasions when embarrassing study results are released, data are manipulated to make them unintelligible,” Coughlin said in his testimony to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs’ Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Coughlin’s research focused on the relationship between exposure to burn pits and cases of asthma and bronchitis among Afghanistan and Iraq veterans, including those who fought in the 1991 Gulf War. read more

Minority Youth More Likely to be Asked for ID When Voting than Whites

The study, coauthored by Cathy J. Cohen of the University of Chicago and Jon C. Rogowski of Washington University in St. Louis, found that 72.9% of black youth (aged 18-29) were asked for ID, compared with 60.8% of young Latinos and 50.8% of young whites. In the 2012 presidential elections, 93% of black voters voted for Barack Obama, as id 71% of Latino voters and 60% of voters aged 18-29. read more

As Real Threat from Al-Qaeda Fades, Is FBI Stepping Up Set-Ups?

According to Clapper, al-Qaeda’s main operation, located in Pakistan, is in such bad shape that it is “probably unable to carry out complex, large-scale attacks in the West.” Furthermore, the terrorist organization’s regional spinoffs in the Middle East and Africa may pose trouble locally, but aren’t in a position to carry out attacks on American soil. And yet, the FBI keeps exposing and arresting anti-American elements in the U.S. that are allegedly a threat. read more

Bad Behavior Plagued Justice Department Voting Rights Section during Two Administrations

The news of what went on within the section was nonetheless bad for Thomas E. Perez, the assistant attorney general for DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, who is reportedly President Barack Obama’s choice for labor secretary. In his current capacity, Perez has overseen the Voting Section, and details from the IG’s report could be used against him during confirmation hearings, if he is nominated. read more

Air Safety Plan to Examine U.S. Travelers’ Personal Data Triggers Privacy Concerns

Information that the government would use to vet passengers would include data that individuals have volunteered through trusted traveler programs. But some of the information would come from the Department of Homeland Security, which has agreed to edit out some of the information it has, such as meal preferences. read more

Wells Fargo Typo Victim Lost His Condo and then His Life in Court

In May 2010, the lawyer, Anthony Trujillo, discovered the Wells Fargo typo in its original letter to Delassus, which listed the parcel number of a neighbor. The bank acknowledged the mistake in September 2010, but had already tacked on a reinstatement fee and other costs. Delassus was hospitalized in May 2011, suffering from the rare liver disease Budd-Chiari Syndrome, and was notified on the day he got out that the bank had sold his home of 16 years. read more

Veterans Waiting more than a Year for Benefits have Grown from 11,000 to 245,000 under Obama

In 2009, the number of ex-soldiers waiting more than a year for their VA care totaled 11,000. By December 2012, the list had ballooned to 245,000 veterans, according to the Center for Investigative Reporting. Those filing for the first time who live in major urban centers can wait more than 600 days before they receive help. In New York City, the delay can be 642 days, and in Los Angeles 619. read more

Justice Dept. Supports Right of Citizens to Photograph and Film Police

In the statement filed in a Maryland federal court, the Justice Department said all individuals—not just credentialed photojournalists—have a First Amendment right to record law enforcement officers performing their duties. The department added that Americans are protected under the Fourth and 14th Amendment from having their recordings seized without a warrant or due process. read more

Air Force Version of Punishing Sexual Assault: No Promotion

Gen. Franklin—who is not a judge and did not attend Wilkerson’s trial—has the power to overturn the verdict because he is Wilkerson’s commander. Under the military’s bizarre system of law, Franklin is not required to explain his decision, which is final—it cannot be reviewed or overturned, not even by the secretary of defense or the president. read more

Federal Court Limits Cell Phone and Laptop Searches Near Border

The court, which decides appeals arising from nine Western states, ruled that border agents must have at least a “reasonable suspicion” of criminal wrongdoing in order to seize electronic devices and perform forensic examinations of them—the first court to apply any restriction to the so-called “border exception” to the Fourth Amendment. read more

40% of U.S. Nuclear Reactors Have Had “Near-Misses” Since 2010

The 14 near misses at 16 reactors detailed by the report that took place in 2012 include an electrical failure that compromised the cooling system and required a manual reactor shutdown at the River Bend Station near St. Francisville, Louisiana (10 mile radius pop.: 41,244); a cooling water leak at the Palisades plant near South Haven, Michigan (pop.: 34,103); and equipment failures at the Byron plant near Rockford, Illinois (pop.: 36,110). read more

White House Approves Unlocking of Cell Phones; Bill Introduced in Congress

The Copyright Office had previously exempted cell phones from the rule, but determined that the wide availability of unlocked phones meant an exemption was no longer warranted. Because the Library of Congress is not an Executive Branch agency, but instead is part of Congress, the President lacks the power to order a change in policy. Consumers fought back, however, angry that wireless carriers were given all the power over unlocking cell phones, even those purchased at full price. read more

Two State Supreme Court Judges Convicted of Felonies

Just the second Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice to be convicted in almost three centuries, Justice Melvin was found guilty of six counts of corruption—including theft of services, criminal conspiracy, and misappropriation of state property—on February 21 for using government employees to work on her 2003 and 2009 campaigns for Supreme Court justice, which is an elected position in Pennsylvania. read more

As Hanford Radioactive Leak Continues, Clean-Up Contractor Pays Fraud Penalty

Following news last week of underground storage tanks leaking toxic waste, the contractor hired to clean said tanks at the Hanford Nuclear Site has admitted to committing fraud. The company, CH2M Hill Hanford Group Inc. (CHG), admitted that its workers padded their time cards, with the company’s blessing, for years from 1999-2008, thus defrauding the government. read more