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-Land of the Free

Federal watchdog: Customs and Border Protection anti-terror unit investigated journalists

2021-12-12

[JustTheNews] A Customs and Border Protection division used government databases intended to track terrorists to investigate as many as 20 U.S.-based journalists, according to a federal watchdog.

Yahoo News published a report on the investigation in which the news outlet also found the Counter Network Division

...have we heard of them?

also made quires on congressional staffers and perhaps members of Congress.

Jeffrey Rambo, an agent who acknowledged running checks on journalists in 2017, told federal investigators the practice is routine.

Rambo has been identified as the agent who accessed a reporter Ali Watkins' travel records. She worked for Politico at the time. His contact with her led to the inspector general's investigation.

Rambo was unavailable Saturday for a request by the Associated Press for comment.

The inspector general referred possible criminal charges for misusing government databases and lying to investigators, but the Justice Department declined to prosecute Rambo and two other Homeland Security employees, the according to the Associated Press.

The only person convicted as a result of Rambo's efforts is James Wolfe, a former Senate Intelligence committee security director who had a personal relationship with Watkins. He pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with reporters.

The Associated Press obtained a redacted copy of the Homeland Security Department's inspector general report, the revelations in which have concerns among news outlets and calls for an explanation, the wire service also reports.

Customs and Border Protection said such vetting and investigation efforts are "strictly governed by well-established protocols and best practices."

The new disclosures are among the most recent examples of federal agencies using their power to examine the contacts of journalists and others.

Attorney General Merrick Garland has stopped prosecutors from seizing the records of journalists in leak investigations with few exceptions.

Posted by:Skidmark

#9 You’re thinking of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the Lion of Panjshir, Rob. His son, Ahmad Massoud, is in Tajikistan as the leader in exile of the Northern Alliance 2.0. Unlike his father, the Taliban he faces have Pakistani military advisors.

Posted by: trailing wife 2021-12-12 15:32

#8 Claiming to be a "journalist" doesn't mean you're not also a criminal or terrorist.

Didn't al'Qaeda prep for the 9/11 aftermath by sending "reporters" to "interview" -- assassinate -- the leader of the Northern Alliance leader?

Posted by: Rob Crawford 2021-12-12 12:16

#7 Considering the quality of "journalists" and congress these days...

Posted by: DarthVader 2021-12-12 11:21

#6 Operation Whistle Pig: Customs and Border Patrol secret unit used country's most sensitive databases to spy on US citizens that included 20 journalists, government officials, congressional members and NGO workers

'When a name comes across your desk, you run it through every system you have access to, that's just status quo, that's what everyone does'

Posted by: Skidmark 2021-12-12 09:28

#5 /\ Yes, Page was working for an intelligence agency while on the Trump Campaign team, but it wasn't a Russian intelligence agency.

Sharp lad that he is, I'm satisfied he knew exactly what he was doing and to what end.

Posted by: Besoeker 2021-12-12 07:25

#4 Ali Watkins is the notorious little whore who slept with Senate Intel Committe security official James Wolfe, whose leaks she published as a way of helping spread the Russia Hoax bullshit about Carter Page being a Russian spy when in reality he's a C!A asset.

Our media whores are beyond shameless. This one literally pristituted herself for a story -- which itself was bogus.

Posted by: Merrick Ferret 2021-12-12 07:20

#3 Cells within cells. Exciting new, short-term project. No additional training necessary. Some travel required. Special Duty Pay authorized. Reassignment to former duties at project termination. If interested, you know the drill. Sign the NDA and see Jake for additional.

Posted by: Besoeker 2021-12-12 01:49

#2 Good catch, Flatch Wittlesbach3456.

Posted by: trailing wife 2021-12-12 01:40

#1 Counterpoint: First… The author Mrs. Jana Winter [Yahoo News] and Ali Watkins are lying about a very key point. Watkins claims James Wolfe never leaked any classified information to her, and Jana Winter makes that point repeatedly. This is a lie, they are liars – [sue me]. James Wolfe did leak classified information to Ali Watkins, who was writing for Buzzfeed at the time, which Watkins then shared with her friends and peers in the media. One specific classified leak was the Carter Page FISA application, which Wolfe leaked to Watkins in March of 2017.

Second… When Jeffrey Rambo enters the picture to question Watkins, neither of them knew at the time that Watkins was already under FBI investigation. The timeline is outlined in the original James Wolfe indictment. After Watkins wrote an article in early April 2017, using the Wolfe and the FISA leak as her anonymous source, she became a target for investigation.

Posted by: Flatch Wittlesbach3456 2021-12-12 01:37

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