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Daily Archives: January 3, 2006

Release of New Documents Complicates Understanding of NSA Actions Post 9/11

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Several articles available today expand upon the discussion about, and information related to, the escalating controversy generated by revelations of a post 9/11 domestic surveillance program. Listed below are the articles and links which collectively shed new light on the issue, result in further questions yet unanswered, and offer additional commentary and perspective on potential ramifications for individuals, journalists, and citizens overall:

  • New York Times: “The National Security Agency acted on its own authority, without a formal directive from President Bush, to expand its domestic surveillance operations in the weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks, according to declassified documents released Tuesday.”
  • Time: The Book Behind the Bombshell – “At the center of the article’s backstory is Risen, who unsuccessfully pushed to publish the wiretap report last year, then took a leave to write a book, State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration. It now appears he may pay a price for the disclosure: last Friday the Justice Department opened an investigation into who leaked the existence of the NSA program to the Times, raising the prospect of Risen’s being compelled to reveal the identities of the “nearly dozen” current and former officials who spoke to him about the program or face jail time for contempt of court.” [related references: see Executive Order 12333–United States intelligence activities], and Pelosi’s Declassified Letter on NSA Activities
  • Time: Presidential Snooping Damages the Nation
  • Steven Aftergood, quoted in AP article: “It does seem that the NSA is doing something different and in a different way than what it has done before.”

    • U.S. v. Jack Abramoff

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    From the Talking Points Memo Document Collection: Abramoff Plea to Conspiracy, Mail Fraud, and Tax Evasion, January 3, 2006 (HTML, 13 pages) Abramoff Plea Deal for Conspiracy, Mail Fraud, and Tax Evasion Charges, January 3, 2006 (HTML, 29 pages) And from FindLaw: Plea Agreement, January 4, 2005 (7 pages, PDF) DOJ press release: Former Lobbyist… Continue Reading

    Declassified Letters by Pelosi and Hayden on NSA Activities Released

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    Following up on my December 21, 2005 posting, Pelosi Requests Declassification of Her Letter on NSA Activities, today Congresswoman Pelosi released the text of her letter, along with the response of then National Security Agency (NSA) Director Michael Hayden, both of which have redacted, and date from October 2001. Related references: AP: Intelligence Panel Had… Continue Reading

    Ramifications of Proposed Federal Rules On E-Discovery

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    Document management systems go to court – New federal rules for 2006 could come down hard on IT: “First, the proposed amendments to Rule 26 will require attorneys for both parties to a litigation in Federal court to sit down prior to the proceedings to discuss their clients’ document management systems….Rule 37(f), also called a… Continue Reading

    Privacy Issues Impact Posting Personal Data on E-Gov Sites

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    Government officials throughout the country are evaluating the risks and benefits of posting personal data about citizens and public official on e-gov sites, such as is increasingly the case with real estate records and court related documents. This Government Technology article reviews the challenges posed by this issue, and the range of responses, and non… Continue Reading

    Patriot Act Reauthorization Fight Returns to Spotlight

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    White House press release today: President Discusses Use and Reauthorization of USA PATRIOT Act AP: Bush Pushes for Patriot Act Renewal From the ALA Washington Office Newsline “Please keep up the pressure on members of Congress by encouraging them to continue to fight for the following: 1. The ability for a Section 215 recipient to… Continue Reading