TOTAL INFORMATION ANALYSIS

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Online Journal Mar 9, 2007:

"The Liberty Coalition, a transpartisan public policy group dedicated to preserving the Bill of Rights, personal autonomy and individual privacy today sent a petition signed by 30 liberal, libertarian and conservative groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, Citizen Outreach, OMB Watch, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Government Accountability Project, Electronic Freedom Foundation, and the National Coalition Against Censorship to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform urging prompt hearings on the case of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) whistleblower Sibel Edmonds.

Edmonds, a former FBI language specialist, brought charges of wrongdoing, criminal activity, cover-ups and national security threats inside the agency following the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Edmonds was promptly fired, which she asserts was an act of retaliation. The Department of Justice (DOJ) then used the State Secrets Privilege to shut down court proceedings in her case and prevent Congress from exploring the matter. Civil liberties advocates argue that Edmonds's case in an example of other instances where whistleblowers who tried to inform Congress and taxpayers about national security threats were intimidated, silenced, and retaliated against.

[...]

The issues reported by Ms. Edmonds include:



Espionage activities within the FBI, DOD, and the Department of State.



Cover-up of information and leads pre- and post-9/11, under the excuse of protecting certain diplomatic relations.



Deliberate mistranslation of crucial intelligence by FBI translators and management.



Foreign entities bribing government officials and elected representatives.

Civil liberties advocates assert that these issues point to an abuse of power, a criminal conspiracy and attempts to cover up wrongdoing by using the coercive power of the state.

In regards to abuse of power, Ann Beeson, associate legal director, ACLU National Office, and lead counsel in Ms. Edmonds' case said, "The government abused the state secrets privilege to deny Sibel Edmonds her day in court, and to prevent accountability in other cases for illegal spying and rendition. It is high time for Congress to intervene."
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Labels: 9/11, sibel edmonds

| Posted at 03:54 | PERMA-LINK |

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