The Guardian: The Ultimate Goal of the NSA is Total Population Control
Earlier this month at a conference in London, NSA whistleblower and GAP client Bill Binney revealed that “at least 80% of all audio calls, not just metadata, are recorded and stored in the US,” and that the NSA is actively lying about its surveillance operations. Binney also spoke on the lack of adequate oversight of the NSA by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which has led to “at least 15-20 trillion constitutional violations for US domestic audiences.”
Key Quote: “The ultimate goal of the NSA is total population control”, Binney said, “but I’m a little optimistic with some recent Supreme Court decisions, such as law enforcement mostly now needing a warrant before searching a smartphone.”
Sky News: Jesselyn Radack Discusses US/German Spy Scandal
GAP National Security & Human Rights Director Jesselyn Radack appeared on Sky News about the recent spy scandal between the U.S. and Germany. The report details how the U.S. has failed to resolve repeated allegations that it is spying on its ally, and Radack described the scale of the recent events.
Key Quote (Radack): “If you think about the idea of the U.S. discovering a mole from China or Russia or even a friendly country infiltrating the staff of one of the congressional Intel committees, we would be completely outraged.”
“There is a very cozy, trusting cooperative relationship between Germany and the U.S. and this spy scandal is the biggest such eruption since World War II.”
The Hill: McCaskill Bill Would Protect VA Whistleblowers
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) has introduced a bill that requires the firing of any Department of Veterans Affairs employee who retaliates against a whistleblower. Under current law, retaliation against a whistleblower is punishable by reprimand or fines, but not termination of employment.
In related news, lawmakers from the House Veterans Affairs Committee have introduced a bill that would establish an Office of Whistleblower and Patient Protection at the VA.
House Adopts Anti-Gag Amendment in Energy Spending Bill
Last Friday, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Ca.) sponsored an anti-gag amendment that was adopted by the House of Representatives without opposition. This amendment bans the Department of Energy from using funds to silence contractors who report wrongdoing.
Whistleblower – Pilot Poultry Plant “Craziest Thing I’ve Ever Walked Into”
This recent blog from GAP’s Food Integrity Campaign looks at the USDA’s newly submitted draft of its controversial poultry inspection plan to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). It is uncertain how the OMB will regulate the plan, but USDA inspectors from pilot plants operating under the plan have raised serious concerns for some time.