The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is now conducting a review of a secret internal division that has been found to have been using sensitive databases and other information sources to investigate innocent Americans.
A review is underway to ensure that the activities in question during the prior Administration remain an isolated incident and that proper safeguards are in place to prevent an incident like this from taking place in the future,” Luis Miranda, a spokesperson for CBP, told Yahoo News.
–YahooNews
Rep. Benny Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security released the following statement regarding previous reports that the Counter Network Division at U.S. Customs and Border Protection were investigating journalists, members of Congress, and other American citizens using government databases:
If true, this abuse of government surveillance powers to target journalists, elected officials and their staff is deeply disturbing. The United States government has an obligation to protect all citizens' right to privacy and freedom of speech. There must be accountability and protections in place to ensure that such incidents never occur. The Inspector General must provide this report to Congress to enable critical oversight work.”
–Committee on Homeland Security Press Release
CBP agent Jeffrey Rambo was implicated in 2-year internal probe where he was found – at the direction of his supervisor, Dan White – to have collected data on journalists and their contacts to build a network of connected people, using financial, phone, and travel information. At the end of the investigation, no charges were brought, despite evidence of wrongdoing, and false-statements made to investigators by CBP agents under investigation.
A CBP official who asked not to be named told Yahoo News that the National Targeting Center has put in place new procedures and training designed to ensure that the First and Fourth amendments are not being violated. The official declined, however, to specify what those measures were.
–YahooNews
Benny Thompson’s a little late to the party. The FBI operated a huge domestic spying operation against the Trump family and his associates for the past 6 years, along with many journalists. They are squarely in the middle of the Russia collusion hoax, along with the CIA and some elected officials. Now Thompson’s concerned? Ha ha. This story is the punchline to a bad joke.
I’m surprised that Thompson is doing anything at all. Seems like they just take it for granted now that spying and law-breaking is par for the course.
The DNC/RINO GOP/DHS/CIA/FBI/IRS all use contractors off site. Just like the Arkancide squad!