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“There’s no white knight coming,” a federal law enforcement official told NBC News, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe the posture of federal authorities in the coming weeks, after Election Day. Law enforcement officials across the country said they believe the 2024 election will have a more sustained drumbeat of partisan rhetoric and disinformation than the 2020 election. The FBI has also set up a National Election Command Post at headquarters specifically to focus on election threats, as is standard practice in an election year. Two law enforcement officials expressed some concern that a federal response to any serious election issues could be chaotic and involve a “hodgepodge” of different state, local and federal law enforcement agencies and local election entities. Four other current and former law enforcement sources said they worried that disinformation and conspiracy theories could affect some segments of the law enforcement community, especially in parts of the country where Trump has significant support.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, “ We’ve, Rebecca Weiner, —, Attorney General Merrick Garland, “, General Merrick Garland, Chip Somodevilla, Jan, — “, Garland, Department’s, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON —, U.S . Capitol, NBC News, New York Police, Democrat, FBI, Justice Department, Trump, Infrastructure Security Agency, The Justice Department, Department, Attorney, Getty, Law, Department of Homeland Security, Capitol, Force Locations: ”, U.S, ” Federal, China, Iran, Russia, stoke

CNN —Employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs improperly accessed the medical files of Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the two major party vice presidential nominees, and an investigation is under way. Two sources familiar with the situation confirmed that VA employees improperly accessed Vance’s medical records, and roughly two months ago, an employee in VA Inspector General Michael Missal’s office reached out to someone in the Ohio Republican’s operation to alert them of the breach, one of the sources said. The Washington Post, which first reported the incident, said at least a dozen employees accessed the records. Walz enlisted at 17 and served 24 years in the National Guard before retiring in 2005 to run for Congress.

Persons: Sen, JD Vance, Tim Walz, Michael Missal’s, Harris, Terrence Hayes, –, ” Vance, Walz Organizations: CNN, Employees, Department of Veterans Affairs, Minnesota Gov, Washington Post, Justice Department, Marines, National Guard Locations: Minnesota, Ohio, Iraq

☆ Report finds ‘no evidence’ Hawaii officials prepared for Maui wildfire that killed 102 despite warnings
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-14 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Honolulu (AP) — Investigators reviewing the emergency response to last year’s wildfire that killed 102 people on Maui said in a report released Friday they found “no evidence” Hawaii officials made preparations for it, despite days of warnings that critical fire weather was coming. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency didn’t immediately respond with comment. Maui fire commanders discussed the forecast, but “no evidence of pre-event preparedness plans by the MFD were produced,” the report said. Maui County and the state use private contractors to help fight fires with water tankers and heavy equipment. And despite the warnings, the heads of the county emergency management agency and the Maui Fire Department were off-island that day, attending conferences in Honolulu.

Persons: —, Anne Lopez, Maui’s, Richard Bissen, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency didn’t, weren’t, Firefighters, ” Derek Alkonis Organizations: — Investigators, National Weather Service, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Maui Fire Department, Maui Police, Hawaiian Electric Co, Firefighters, Fire Safety Research Institute, Maui Police Department Locations: Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, State, Maui County, West Maui

☆ Florida hearing may determine if Trump’s Mar-a-Lago documents trial is delayed until after election
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Katelyn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Trump’s lawyers have repeatedly complained to the judge in the Mar-a-Lago criminal document-mishandling case that they haven’t had proper access to classified evidence in the case as they prepare for a trial next May. Cannon, a Trump appointee, has so far given Trump’s team some of the leeway they’ve asked for in the documents investigation. The defense teams have access to more than 1 million pages of information in the case, according to court filings. In a filing last week, prosecutors told the judge Trump’s team has cried wolf about their access to evidence in the case, including classified records. Trump’s legal team has been reviewing and discussing classified evidence in Miami, most recently on Tuesday, when the former president joined his lawyers in the SCIF during the afternoon, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Persons: Donald Trump, Aileen Cannon, Cannon, ” “, Jack Smith, Trump’s, Walt Nauta, Carlos De Oliveira, Trump, Department’s “, it’s, De Oliveira, They’ve Organizations: Pierce , Florida CNN, Trump, Nauta Locations: Pierce , Florida, Florida, Ft . Pierce , Florida, United States, Miami

☆ Russia economy: Former CIA chief David Petraeus says US needs to 'tighten the screws'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

‘An economy that is hemorrhaging’Western sanctions have not delivered a deathblow to the Russian economy. Some, including economist Larry Summers, argue that economic penalties on Russia haven’t bitten as hard as anticipated because not enough countries have imposed sanctions. Others, like Yale professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, say sanctions are “working tremendously” well against Russia. Petraeus praised the Treasury Department’s “very impressive” sanctions campaign, led by Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo. But the former CIA chief noted the complexity involved in modern sanctions, where target countries often find ways to evade restrictions.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, David Petraeus, “ Putin, ” Petraeus, month’s Wagner, Petraeus, Putin, ”, “ They’ve, Larry Summers, Russia haven’t, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, ” Sonnenfeld, Wally Adeyemo, “, Biden, Washington hasn’t, ’, you’re Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, KKR Global Institute, Reuters, US Central Command, CIA, Yale, KKR Locations: New York, Washington, Moscow, Russian, Europe, Russia, “ Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv

☆ In Berkeley, a Library Protest Is a Fight for Anthropology in an A.I. Age
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Tim Arango | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Charles Hirschkind, the chair of the anthropology department, said that the university had reduced the number of graduate students it accepts into the anthropology since 2004 by a little more than half, reflecting, he said, the department’s “weaker financial situation” and the rise in costs to support graduate students. “When we’re talking about budgetary restraints, we are also talking about priorities and where one decides to invest,” he said. And the occupation of the library, to some, is reminiscent of an earlier activist era at Berkeley. Worried that the university is trying to run out the clock until summer break and then dismantle the library, the students say they will stay as long as it takes. “They can give us the library tomorrow,” Mr. Molloy said, “and we’ll all be happy to go home.”

☆ US restricts 6 Chinese companies tied to airships and balloons
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Brian Rokus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US Commerce Department is restricting six Chinese companies tied to the Chinese army’s aerospace programs from obtaining US technology without government authorization. US fighter jets shot down the balloon, which American officials have since claimed is part of an extensive surveillance program run by the Chinese military. The six companies are: Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology; China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 48th Research Institute; Dongguan Lingkong Remote Sensing Technology; Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group; Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology; and Shanxi Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group. The inclusion of the companies on the Commerce Department’s “Entity List,” sends “a clear message to companies, governments, and other stakeholders globally that the entities on the list present a threat to national security,” the statement said. “Today’s action makes clear that entities that seek to harm US national security and sovereignty will be cut off from accessing US technologies.”CNN has reached out to the companies involved and the Chinese government for comment.

☆ Two Presidents, Two Special Counsels
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Hear that quacking sound from Washington? It’s Attorney General Merrick Garland ’s latest duck. Faced with news that classified documents were recently found not only in a private office of President Biden’s but also his Delaware home, including in the garage, Mr. Garland on Thursday named another special counsel. “I strongly believe that the normal processes of this department can handle all investigations with integrity,” Mr. Garland said. “But under the regulations, the extraordinary circumstances here require the appointment of a special counsel.” He claimed this would make clear the Justice Department’s “commitment to both independence and accountability.” The new special counsel is Robert Hur , who clerked for Chief Justice William Rehnquist before starting a career as a federal prosecutor.

The disharmony between the Justice Department’s case and the Biden administration’s gun safety efforts as well as the fears and pressure that a lost appeal could damage gun safety laws are at the crux of the survivors' acrimony. Why are you doing all this (gun reform) and yet you’re fighting it over here?’” said Juan “Gunny” Macias, a survivor who was shot numerous times in the attack and viewed the president’s gun safety priorities as dissonant with the potential Justice Department appeal. The Justice Department has received two extensions to file its appeal brief, now due next week, and is unlikely to receive another one. “I assume the Justice Department is taking this position because the lawyers are looking for the best legal avenues that will give them the outcome they want,” he said. That’s what creates problems like the ones we’re facing.”For fear of what an appeal could mean for U.S. gun laws, a coalition of 37 gun safety organizations sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland in October about the Justice Department’s intention to appeal.

☆ U.S. blacklists Chinese firm selling video surveillance tech to Iran
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Dan De Luce | Dan De Luce Is A Reporter For The Nbc News Investigative Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

“The Chinese Communist Party is weaponizing technology companies to further its geopolitical goals,” Rubio said in an email. Human rights advocates and lawmakers are concerned Iranian authorities could use Tiandy’s video surveillance technology to help squelch a wave of anti-regime protests in the country. The Biden administration last month effectively banned the sale or import of new equipment from a number of Chinese surveillance firms. China has strongly rejected U.S. criticism of Chinese tech companies and of its treatment of Uyghurs or other Muslim minorities in the country. But he said it was “absurd” to portray Chinese technology as a security threat.

☆ Drastic pay inequities persist for Black and Latino NYC workers, especially women
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Zachary Schermele | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

A new pay equity report from the New York City Council shows “persistent, large pay gaps” in the city’s municipal workforce, particularly among Black, Latino and white employees — a divide that gets worse when comparing men and women workers. Black city employees make just 71 cents on average for every dollar made by their white counterparts, according to the report, which was released Thursday. For Black women and Latinas, the gap is even larger, dropping to 69 cents for every dollar made by white male employees. On the whole, female city employees make 73 cents for every male dollar. Pay equity reports are mandated by a New York City law passed in 2019 that aimed to “find and eliminate” wage gaps in public employment.

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