In response to litigation brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Obama administration authorized the Justice Department to release four secret legal memoranda used by the Bush administration to justify torture. The memoranda were releasd on April 16, 2009. President Obama also issued a statement, emphasizing that “this…
Articles Posted in The Documents Corner
New York District Attorney Morgenthau Announces 118 Count Indictment of Profileration of Illicit Missle and Nuclear Technology to Government of Iran
Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced today a 118-count indictment of a Chinese citizen and his company for charges relating to the misuse of Manhattan banks and the proliferation of illicit missile and nuclear technology to the Government of Iran. The Chinese company, known as LIMMT, is a major…
Social Security Administration: Fugitive Felons Serving As Representative Payees
The Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration (SSA) has prepared an audit report, Fugitive Felons Serving As Representative Payees. March 2009. The Report consists of a review and analysis of representative payee issues within the SSA. To conduct the review, a file of fugitive records was…
All Charges Dropped Against Former Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska
The U.S. Justice Department moved on Wednesday April 1 to drop all charges in the case against former Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska. In a federal court on Wednesday Justice Department lawyers explained that in addition to earlier disclosures they discovered further evidence of misconduct that raised questions about the…
Documents:Illinois Former Governor Rod Blagojevich and Five Associates Indicted by Grand Jury
In a 75 page, 19 count indictment, prosecutors allege that Mr. Blagojevich and his associates sought illegal profits from the governor’s authority to award money and jobs in construction, legal work, consulting and investmentments. Included in the indictment are allegations that Mr. Blagojevich and his associates “schemed to auction off…
Report: Gun Violence and Illegal Firearms Trafficking on the U.S.- Mexican Border
A Report of the Violence Policy Center* authored by Senior Policy Analyst Tom Diaz Introduction Mexico is under siege, its democratic governance is at risk. This report examines the role of the U.S. civilian gun market in the drug-related violence in Mexico that is creeping northward into the United States.…
Documents Introducing the Obama Administration Public-Private Partnership Investment Program
On Monday March 23, 2009 the Obama administration presented the details of the Public-Private Invetment Program as a major initiative to help stimulate the U.S. economy. Below are links to four documents which were prepared to help introduce this program. Press Briefing by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Plans to…
New FOIA Guidelines Issued In Memorandum By U.S. Attorney General Holder
In his memorandum of March 19, 2009 to heads of executive departments and agencies, Attorney General Holder rescinds former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft’s October 12, 2001 memorandum which states that records could be witheld by the Department of Justice “unless they lack a sound legal basis or present an…
U.S. Department of Justice Releases Nine Office of Legal Counsel Memoranda and Opinions
Secret legal opinions issued by the Bush administration lawyers after the September 11, 2001 attacks were among the nine that were released and disclosed publicly by the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday March 2, 2009. In a Department of Justice Press Release announcing this action, Eric Holder the current…
Selected Documents Regarding President Obama’s 2010 Fiscal Year Budget Submission
Yesterday President Barack Obama presented his proposed budget for fiscal year 2010. The $3.6 trillion budget as presented represents a significant change in nearly 30 years of governing philosophy. The following are links to the 134 page budget booklet and selected accompanying documents: President Obama’s Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year…