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Secrecy and Security News

Newer News: July 2017

June 2017

• The Most Interesting Drug Busts in America by Peter Hess, Inverse, June 30. "'Microgram Bulletin' has kept chemists and drug users aware of trends for the past 50 years... Unfortunately, in 2013, the DEA returned the publication to law-enforcement-restricted status."
• CIA Correction to Mandatory Declassification Review regulation, Federal Register, June 28. "The Agency welcomes suggestions, comments, or complaints with regard to its administration of the mandatory declassification review program established under Executive Order 13526."
• The FBI Won't Release Comey's Trump Memos Because They're Part Of "Law Enforcement Proceedings" by Claudia Koerner and Jason Leopold, Buzzfeed, June 16. "The FBI will not release memos written by former director James Comey on his interactions with President Trump because they're part of a 'pending or prospective law enforcement proceeding'."
• DoD requests new authorities to defend against UAS threats, section 1602 of proposed FY 2018 defense authorization bill, May 25. "Some of the most promising technical countermeasures for detecting and mitigating UAS may be construed to be illegal under certain laws that were passed when UAS were unforeseen."
• DoD again proposes new FOIA exemption for unclassified tactics, techniques and procedures, section 1003 of proposed FY 2018 defense authorization bill, May 25. "The effectiveness of United States military operations is dependent upon adversaries, or potential adversaries, not having advance knowledge of TTPs or rules of engagement that will be employed in such operations."
• Trump slaps Comey with 'leaker' label, but legal fight far from clear by Josh Gerstein, Politico, June 9. "Experts say Comey may have violated FBI policy, but Trump lawyers' threats not certain to damage him."
• Trump Calls Comey a 'Leaker.' What Does That Mean? by Charlie Savage, New York Times, June 9. "The word 'leak' has no official legal definition. But the term usually refers to the act of providing confidential information to the public in a surreptitious way and without official authorization."
• Comey's release of Trump memo to newspaper draws criticism, Associated Press, June 8. "When former FBI Director James Comey revealed Thursday that he orchestrated a disclosure of damaging details about his conversations with President Donald Trump, he kicked up a hornet's nest of questions about the legal and ethical implications of the move."
• Trump rages about leakers. Obama quietly prosecuted them. by Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Washington Post, June 8. "Experts on executive-branch leaks say it's too early to gauge Trump's legacy. But much has been made about the Obama administration's hunt for leakers."
• State Department Defends Lack of Daily Press Briefings as Temporary by Charles S. Clark, Government Executive, June 8. "Asked to explain the irregular briefing schedule, a State spokesperson told Government Executive, 'There has been no break in the State Department's commitment to providing relevant and timely information and access to the press'."
• NARA Issues Final Rule on Presidential Records, Federal Register, June 8. "The changes to this regulation make clear that, when we maintain electronic Presidential records on behalf of the President before the President's term of office expires, the President retains exclusive control over the records."
• Trump's Top Lawman Won't Promise 'Fully Independent' Russia Probe by Spencer Ackerman, Daily Beast, Jun 7. "The Trump-Russia probe is now being run by a special counsel in order to guarantee its integrity. Except the man who appointed that counsel won't make that guarantee."
• Former whistleblower fears Reality Winner arrest could have 'chilling effect' by Joshua Eaton, ThinkProgress, June 7. "Critics accuse an online news outlet of failing to protect its source, while reporters consider how to do their job in age of Trump."
• Indictment of Reality J. Winner, June 7. "WINNER knew that she was not authorized to remove the intelligence reporting from the U.S. Government Agency and retain and transmit it."
• Charges show peril for leakers, journalists alike, by Cory Bennett, Politico, June 6. "Both a Georgia contractor and an online news outlet may have failed to take proper precautions against government scrutiny, security experts say."
• Complaint/Affidavit for Arrest of Reality Leigh Winner, June 5. "For the reasons set forth below, I believe that there is probable cause to believe that WINNER committed a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 793(e)."

Older News: May 2017

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Updated July 3, 2017