Posted on 12/09/2017 5:14:50 PM PST by Twotone
Agents of the federal government have been sending coded messages to one another, but they aren’t deep-cover spies evading the Russian spooks or transmitting North Korean launch codes.
They are run-of-the-mill bureaucrats who appear to be using digital technology to evade the American people and their representatives in Congress and the White House.
“There’s no elected control if the bureaucrats can have conversations that are not reviewable by elected officials,” said John Vecchione, president and CEO of the Cause of Action Institute (COA). “They can’t control the bureaucracy.”
Vecchione’s group filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request earlier this week on how many devices being used by Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) employees have encrypted messaging applications, along with the policy guidelines governing their use. The FOIA also requests the employees’ messages.
The FOIA requires that all official federal documents, including employee correspondence in whatever format they are created, be available on request to members of the public, subject to only certain exemptions for privacy, national security, and related situations.
COA filed a lawsuit seeking similar information in November against the Environmental Protection Agency.
The COA request and litigation come as members of Congress are pushing to bring CFPB under congressional oversight, which was not included in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law that established the bureau.
Outgoing CFPB director Richard Cordray was prevented by a federal judge from installing a deputy, paving the way for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney to lead the agency temporarily.
Against this backdrop, The New York Times reported Tuesday that bureau employees calling themselves “Dumbledore’s Army” have taken extraordinary measures to communicate without leaving a paper trail.
(Excerpt) Read more at lifezette.com ...
FIRE THEM ALL!
These POS overpaid Government Traitors should be Electrocuted at Midnight, Hanged at 12 Noon or Shot at Sunrise.
I believe in informed Choice.
They all need to go all of them
Is what they are doing illegal? Can a plausible case be made that it is illegal? If so, prosecute them, all of them. Go scorched earth. Force them to spend their personal assets defending themselves, as so many conservatives have had to do when subjected to lawfare tactics.
“subject to only certain exemptions for privacy, national security, and related situations.”
Egregious understatement of the law:
Exemption 1: Information that is classified to protect national security.
Exemption 2: Information related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency.
Exemption 3: Information that is prohibited from disclosure by another federal law.
Exemption 4: Trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is confidential or privileged.
Exemption 5: Privileged communications within or between agencies, including those protected by the:
Deliberative Process Privilege (provided the records were created less than 25 years before the date on which they were requested)
Attorney-Work Product Privilege
Attorney-Client Privilege
Exemption 6: Information that, if disclosed, would invade another individual’s personal privacy.
Exemption 7: Information compiled for law enforcement purposes that:
7(A). Could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings
7(B). Would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication
7(C). Could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
7(D). Could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source
7(E). Would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions
7(F). Could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual
Exemption 8: Information that concerns the supervision of financial institutions.
Exemption 9: Geological information on wells.
I knew it was bad but I’m floored with each new example of deep state treachery. Trump’s importance in saving this republic may only be rivaled by Abraham Lincoln’s. We are so fortunate DJT came along at this point in our history.
If this friggin fraud senator Warren crafted this unconstitutional scheme, she needs to be prosecuted for treason.
We should think twice before we propose to ban people from using encryption even on their personal devices. Even government employees should not have to live as if in a goldfish bowl, with no opportunity for privacy.
Once the leftist mob figures out that they don’t have the votes to impeach Trump, they will be tempted to use some dangerous tactics. I worry for our President and hope that his security team is up to the challenge.
SOOO much low hanging fruit to pick to preserve the Republic!!!!....
Expose the small FRAUD that “real” people would go to jail for and understand... and build an Army of Angry Americans!!!
Govt employees do not have the right to hide what they are doing if it pertains to their job. If they are handling their personal life on government devices, then that is their problem. Everything they do should be transparent and open.
We should think twice before we propose to ban people from using encryption even on their personal devices. Even government employees should not have to live as if in a goldfish bowl, with no opportunity for privacy.
As a government employee, I knew all of my work on a computer was available to everyone in authority over me at any time.
No, doofus...
Only to the extent of activity and communications that relate directly or indirectly with their public employment.
Most specially abuse of power-related incidents. Criminal acts, goes without saying.
Trump’s importance in saving this republic may only be rivaled by Abraham Lincoln’s <<<
if this country survives as a real Republic...your statement will be in every history book for at least 1 generation!....
God Bless America.....
I disagree. If they want to encrypt their personal accounts that is fine. But as an employee the account is not theirs and privacy is not expected.
Deep State = SECRET STATE
Fire them. Go find a real job like every other adult.
My department, in DoD, sets encryption on as default. It's a pain in the ass, so most turn it off from default. Encryption is available to everybody with a common access card.
The private encryption key for e-mail is escrowed by DoD, so it can be retrieved to decrypt the emails if necessary.
Our disk drives are also encrypted with a similar private key.
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