If the Feds Have Stopped Snooping on Our Phone Records, Watch Out for the Anti-Encryption Propaganda
Backdoors into your texts and private message provide far more information than your phone metadata.
FBI
Andrew McCabe Says He Opened Trump Probes in Case He Was 'Fired,' Confirms 25th Amendment Talks
"I was very concerned that I was able to put the Russia case on absolutely solid ground," the former FBI deputy director says.
FBI and CNN Turn Roger Stone Arrest Into a Media Event: Reason Roundup
Plus: a big (and bad) change to asylum policy, Arkansas upholds anti-BDS law, and Rep. Ocasio-Cortez fights Post Fact Checker on minimum wage
Unpaid TSA and FBI Agents Don't Deserve Your Sympathy
The outpouring of emotional and material support for federal workers during the shutdown is understandable, but mistaken.
The FBI Stays Silent After Detaining an American News Anchor for a Week
Marzieh Hashemi's family was largely kept in the dark during her detention.
Chicago Aldermen Dismayed Not by Corruption, but by One of Their Own Cooperating With the Feds
A retiring member of the Chicago City Council wore a wire to record conversations. He's being treated like a snitch…by city leaders.
Shutdown Leaves No Money for FBI Snitches and Drug Buys: Reason Roundup
Also, they have no tires?
The FBI Won't Say if It Spies on Your Social Media Posts. Cue the Lawsuit!
"We shouldn't have to think about self-censoring what we say online."
The FBI Says Hate Crimes Rose 17% in 2017, but That Doesn't Mean Things Are Actually Getting Worse
1,000 more agencies submitted data in 2017 vs. 2016, which could account for much of the increase.
New FBI Crime Report: Violent Crime Dipped Slightly Last Year
Jeff Sessions credits the dip to his tough-on-crime policies, but criminal justice groups say that's nonsense.
Despite Marijuana Legalization Successes, Police Keep Arresting Users
New FBI statistics for 2017 even show a small increase.
NYT: Rosenstein Suggested Secretly Taping Trump, Using the 25th Amendment to Oust Him
Rosenstein was not happy with how Trump handled the James Comey firing.
Dear Democrats and Republicans, Please Keep Tearing Down Your Government
Respect for the overall government is waning. Good.
Why FBI Directors Want to Be Autonomous and Unaccountable
Even if FBI directors might prefer to operate without guidance from presidents, but that set-up would render the FBI unaccountable.
Rand Paul Encourages Trump to Attack Security Clearances of Government Critics
This will have potentially serious consequences for those investigating election meddling.
FBI Agent Who Accidentally Shot Someone While Dancing Gets to Keep His Gun
An agent who accidentally shot someone while dancing can't be around alcohol, but can keep his gun.
Tennessee Deputy Charged After Videos Show Him Tasing Teen Tied to Chair
In one surveillance video, the victim is tased four times for a total of 50 seconds.
After the IG Report, Let's Kill the FBI While We Can
It's time for this intrusive, politicized, and overly powerful agency to be dumped.
Trump Says Comey 'Totally Protected Hillary' but Was Fired for Actions That Hurt Her
The president reverts to his original, highly implausible excuse for dismissing the FBI director.
I.G. Report Won't Settle Any Arguments About Hillary Clinton's Emails
The DOJ's inspector general concludes that James Comey acted wrongly but not politically and that an FBI agent said "we'll stop" Trump from winning but didn't act on it.
Did Trump Obstruct Justice? Does It Matter?
Conduct that does not meet the legal criteria for an obstruction charge could still be serious enough to justify impeachment.
Is the FBI Trying to Bolster Its War on Cryptography?
Was their miscount of unlockable phones truly a mistake or part of an agenda?
Outraged by Politically Motivated DOJ Probes, Trump Orders One
The president thinks the distinction between justice and politics is for suckers.
Comey Acknowledges Screwing Up in Encryption Fight, But He Still Doesn't Grasp the Issue
The former FBI director recognizes his criticism of Apple was "thoughtless," but he doesn't see the underlying problem with seeking cybersecurity back doors.
Backpage Plea to Texas Sex Trafficking Charge Turns On CEO's Admission to Brokering Adult Prostitution
Backpage CEO Carl Ferrer turned over the company and seven other executives in exchange for leniency.
Hey, Beltway Denizens: Spies Are Tracking Your Phones, So Maybe Don't Ruin Encryption
The FBI is looking for a back door to your phone. So are some snoops in the FBI's back yard.
Inspector General's Office to Investigate FBI Surveillance of Carter Page
Did they follow appropriate procedures to get permission to wiretap?
Report: FBI Officials Dragged Feet Breaking into Terrorist's Phone to Try to Force Apple to Weaken Encryption
A political battle following the San Bernardino attack was the result of an attempt to make a test case.
How Government Lost the Crypto Wars (At Least for Now)
Public-key encryption has brought a drastic shift in power from the state to individuals.
Democrats Release Memo Rebutting Claims that FBI Inappropriately Snooped on Former Trump Aide
Argues that secret wiretap authorizations were not abused.
Dutch Attorney Pleads Guilty to Lying to Special Counsel
Alex Van Der Zwaan's plea is latest criminal case to come out of Robert Mueller's investigation.
White House Won't Declassify Dems' Memo on Campaign Surveillance—at Least Not Yet
Trump says he's inclined to do so, but letter expresses concerns about "sensitive passages."
Senate Memo on the Surveillance of Carter Page Suggests FBI Was Misled by Steele
The Nunes memo says the FBI deceived the court. Grassley's memo suggests the FBI was tricked itself.
There's Still No Big 'There' in the Russia Probe
The FBI's disappointing surveillance of Carter Page illustrates the difficulty of implicating the president in illegal collusion.
Trump Defenders Should Support the N.Y. Times Effort to Unseal Secret Surveillance Documents
Why should we have to rely on Dem and GOP spin? Americans have every right to know what happened.
Trump's Critics Worry That He's Undermining Trust in the FBI, As If That's a Bad Thing
More Republican skepticism of law enforcement agencies is a welcome development.
"Selective Surveillance Outrage" and "Situational Libertarianism" Isn't Good Enough, Congress!
The Nunes memo deserved to be released, and so does the forthcoming Schiff one. But come on, D.C., get serious about abuse of FISA and other powers!
If You Think The Nunes Memo Will 'Discredit' FBI and DOJ, You Haven't Been Paying Attention For the Past 50 Years
Democrat Adam Schiff might be right that GOP operatives want to derail the Russia probe. But the FBI and Justice Department lost credibility a long time ago.
Super Bowl Sex Trafficking Myth Gives Good Cover for Federal Security Theater
Minneapolis is being transformed into a police state.
Get Yourself Ready for 'The Memo'—Will It Rock Your World or Put You to Sleep?
Trump has reviewed a document alleging FBI misconduct. It might be released Friday.
Justifying Surveillance of Carter Page Would Have Been Pretty Easy
The FBI needed probable cause to believe he was an agent of a foreign power, a standard that is not hard to meet.
Everybody's Talking About 'The Memo' and Ignoring the Surveillance Debate
Partisan posturing drowns out important civil liberties concerns.
Report: Trump Tried to Fire Mueller; White House Counsel Refused, Threatened to Quit
Trump tried to force end of Russian investigation back in June.
Conservatism's Not-So-'Secret' Society of Opportunistic Hacks
From Ron Johnson to Fox News and beyond, Team Red has replaced skeptical scrutiny of Obama-era executive branch activity with dimwitted counterpunching for Trump.
House Votes to Renew, Expand Authority to Snoop on Americans
Push by lawmakers for stricter warrant requirements fails.
