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House Republicans are considering a resolution to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over audio recordings of President Joe Biden's interview with special counsel Robert Hur. The contempt vote is seen as a risky move, as it may face opposition from some Republicans and could result in backlash whether it succeeds or fails. The GOP-led committees have already adopted resolutions censuring Garland, but the full House still needs to pass the contempt charges. However, even if the charges pass, it is unlikely that the Justice Department will prosecute Garland, making the citation symbolic. [Extracted from the article]

Similarly, if Trump is confined - at home or in a facility - for violating gag orders or the terms of his bail, it would create a new precedent that would make it easier to imagine Trump in prison if he is convicted of any of the 91 felony counts against him. It was a historic and jarring event when FBI agents searched former President Donald Trump's home last year to look for classified documents he was accused of hoarding. If Trump violates gag orders or violates the terms of his bail by threatening witnesses or court personnel, will a judge - to use a phrase Trump frequently lobbed at his 2016 election opponent - lock him up?. [Extracted from the article]

Trump was arraigned on June 13 at a federal courthouse in Miami, before new charges were unveiled in a superseding indictment in July. The charges: The indictment includes multiple counts of seven separate charges, listing 38 overlapping criminal offenses against Trump and his longtime aide Walt Nauta - 37 of which are directed at Trump. Former President Donald Trump is facing charges in four different cases that range in scope and severity, and are playing out simultaneously in four different locations - New York, Miami, the District of Columbia and Atlanta. [Extracted from the article]

When Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina announced his campaign for the presidency a month ago, he spent much of his speech detailing his background growing up as the child of a single mother in North Charleston. Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador for Donald Trump, did touch on the economy more in announcing her White House bid but framed it as harmful for mothers who were unable to find baby formula on grocery store shelves. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on classified documents being found at the personal residence of President Biden have started investigations with both sides seeking to use the discoveries as proof of wrongdoing highlighting the prevalence of mishandling of classified documents and the need for better understanding of the classification process. It also mentions type of information which are classified, President's role in classification process, and process for declassifying information.

In other words, although all 31 documents listed in the indictment were classified - including at some of the highest possible levels of classification - the Justice Department is charging Trump because the materials contained information about the national defense, not solely because of their classification status. But despite the charges against Trump, the indictment does not render the classification status of the documents Trump kept irrelevant by any stretch, experts say. And perhaps more important than what prosecutors charged Trump with is what they chose not to charge Trump with: a separate criminal statute regarding the "unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material.". [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses discovery of classified documents in the possession of former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence reframing the discussion as a flaw in the system more broadly taking some pressure off the White House and focusing on the protection of sensitive information as a whole, leaving lawmakers from both parties confused at how the documents were taken out of the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), and raises concerns about the handling of government secrets.

The article focuses on U.S. President Joe Biden possessing classified documents. Topics include violations of the rules governing access to classified information are widespread, retired senior leaders transporting bulk documents from secure facilities to storage often experience accidental leaks, the mechanism for handling sensitive information is not always clear which leads to accidental violations of strict rules.

The article reports the political situation after the discovery of second classified documents from the U.S. president Joe Biden's residences. Topics include the documents was from the Obama-Biden administration with classified markings; comments of Attorney General Merrick Garland on possession of the documents; and a special counsel had been appointment to lead an investigation.

Ellis, who had raised $92,515 at the time of this publication through a crowdfunding site to support her legal defense, took to social media earlier this week to call out Trump. Trump, who has a checkered history of paying in full for his own legal defenses, appeared open to helping Giuliani cover at least a portion of his legal fees. But the list also includes much lesser known individuals - a former public school teacher, a pastor, a publicist, a bond bail businessman - all of whom put their personal lives and professional careers on the line for Trump and now want to know who will cover their legal fees. [Extracted from the article]

June 9, 2023, at 5:24 p.m. Until now, a prominent unanswered question hanging over the months-long probe into why Donald Trump had top secret documents after he left the White House has involved motive - essentially, why did the former president take specific documents in the first place? In a short press briefing by Smith on Friday afternoon, the Justice Department special counsel urged the American public to read the entire indictment for themselves to better understand the breadth of the charges against Trump. Related: READ: Full Text of Donald Trump's Indictment To be sure, though, the transcripts - in which he acknowledges the records were classified - confirm that Trump did also use them to elevate his own status. [Extracted from the article]

Examines the U.S. President George W. Bush administration's secrecy policies concerning many critical operations of the federal government. Reversal of a decades-long trend of government openness; Examples, including secret deportation of immigrants suspected as terrorists; Contention that the administration's efforts to shield the executive branch are more extensive than previously documented; How the government has withheld business and consumer information, and health and safety information; Policies that thwart Congress' ability to monitor the executive branch; Classification of records; How the White House has resisted efforts to disclose information; Government pressure on courts to impose more secrecy; Surveillance.

Focuses on the government investigation into the safety and effectiveness of the U.S. CIA. Classified information given to a journalist regarding a former CIA operative; How the FBI will begin the investigation by interviewing White House staff; Possible appointment of special counsel; Reasons why the public is upset by actions taken by the government regarding the invasion of Iraq.

Assesses the damage done to the United States by Chinese spying as of June 7, 1999. Issuance of the bi-partisan Cox report and the charge made stemming from a document China deliberately fed the Central Intelligence Agency in 1995; Approval of the report by Democrats led by Republican Christopher Cox of California; What was stolen, including classified design data on the W-88, the most advanced miniaturized nuclear warhead in the US arsenal; Impact on China's nuclear weapons program.

In this editorial the author argues that a federal law protecting the anonymity of journalists' sources would be more detrimental than beneficial. Such a law would make it more difficult for the U.S. to protect itself against terrorists and criminals. The author also contends that the law's proposed exceptions for national security leaks are inadequate and would compromise classified information.

This article presents news briefs concerning U.S. politics. U.S. President George W. Bush may have authorized the leak of classified Iraqi military information to the press. The debate between politicians over the U.S. military's strategy in the Iraq War is presented. The rise of gasoline prices may increase the amount of support given to nuclear power development by U.S. politicians.

Discusses efforts by the federal government to maintain classified records and documents as a part of national security. Criticism of these efforts as a means of hiding politically sensitive information.

Discusses the removal of copies of classified documents from the National Archives by President Clinton's National Security Adviser Sandy Berger while readying material for the 9/11 commission.

Observes the removal of classified documents from the National Archives allegedly committed by Sandy Berger, a former security adviser to President Bill Clinton. Analysis of theories as to why the documents were removed; Suspicion as to whether he took them inadvertently; Questionable timing of the story being leaked immediately before the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts.

Discusses the scandal in which Sandy Berger, a political adviser to Senator John Kerry, allegedly removed highly classified documents related to terrorism. How the documents detailed President Bill Clinton's handling of al Qaeda plots; The role of an observer who allegedly saw a piece of paper near Berger's ankle, suggesting that his clothes were full of papers; Discrepancy of whether it could have been a white sock; Bias of the New York Times in failing to accurately report the incident.

Discusses U.S. government secrecy, going back to President Abraham Lincoln. Secret deal on intelligence gathering between Lincoln and William Lloyd during the Civil War; President George Washington's confidential records; Mention of the Defense Secrets Act of 1911; Topic of security classification; Background on President Harry S. Truman's government-wide security classification system; Declassification of records by President Bill Clinton.

Focuses on the 1948 crash of an air Force B-29 Super-fortress bomber on a mission testing military electronics. Lawsuit that was filed against the U.S. by widows of three of the nine men killed; Refusal of the Air Force to release accident reports due to national security reasons; Discovery by the daughter of one of the men that the now-declassified accident reports blame the crash on Air Force negligence; Response of the President George W. Bush administration.

Discusses how passage of the U.S. Homeland Security Act gives the U.S. President George W. Bush administration a new tool for secrecy. How a little-known provision of the act allows officials to withhold vast amounts of information; Details of the provision; Belief of critics that officials at all levels could use the provision to withhold health, safety and environmental information; Comments of Jeffrey Smith, general counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency under President Bill Clinton.

Offers examples of secrecy in the U.S. President George W. Bush administration. How the administration froze Clinton-era regulations without allowing for public comment; Role of Attorney General John Ashcorft in encouraging agencies to deny Freedom of Information Act requests; Expansion of law enforcement powers and government surveillance under the USA Patriot Act; Restrictions of the Homeland Security Act; Standards on classified material.

Reports on the arrest of retired Air Force Sergeant Brian Regan for allegedly attempting to sell classified United States government information to foreign governments. His former position as administrator of Interlink, a classified U.S. government database of intelligence documents; His possible motives including a large consumer debt.

Discusses security measures taken at the United States Central Intelligence Agency. Visitors who must leave mobile phones and other equipment at the reception desk; Decision to lift the ban on certain personal digital assistants (PDA) for employees; Worries of some people that the PDA pose a security risk.

Discusses the former Los Alamos, California weapons scientist Wen Ho Lee, and the indictment against him for mishandling nuclear weapons secrets. His defense that he was just careless with the top secret information; Allegations by the government that he downloaded classified information and created tape archives.

Reports the concerns of US National Security officials on possible leaks of classified information from the Governmental Affairs Committee. Comments of Senator Fred Thompson; Classified materials relating to the peoples' Republic of China.

States that President Bill Clinton's promise to declassify all remaining records related to Vietnam-era POWs and MIAs may wind up being hollow. The Pentagon will release every document regarding the missing except for a tiny fraction that could still affect national security or invade the privacy of families. Comments by Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.

The article reports on the release of declassified documents by the U.S. National Security Agency in 2013. It states that the move of the agency has violated the privacy protections of U.S. people. The disclosure of the documents is part of a court-order after a Freedom of Information Act lawsuits filed against the Department of Justice by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union.

The author reflects on the case of Bradley Manning, who staged the biggest classified information leak in U.S. history. He says Manning could either be a hero or traitor with what he did against his own country. He believes that a guilty verdict on Manning should start work on better protecting classified information, which should include legislation as well as technological controls. He discusses how permissioning and authentication tools can be used to limit access to classified databases.

Several letters to the editor are presented commenting on various economic and political issues which include U.S. support for deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, the need for American students to be proud of their history, and the danger of leaking classified data.

The article reports on the implications of the release of U.S. Embassy confidential documents for the U.S. government. The lawmakers and foreign policy officials are assessing the damage done by the leakage to U.S. interests. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Robert Gates believes that the consequences of the incident for the country's foreign policy were likely to be fairly modest.

The author comments on the release of a number of confidential U.S. embassy information by the Web site, WikiLeaks.

An interview with Tom Blanton, executive director of the National Security Archive at George Washington University, is presented. When asked about his focus on national security documents, he argues that too much U.S. Defense Department documents are classified. He explains the possible link between corruption and classified security documents. He also talks about the possibility of subjectivity in classification.