Angering civil libertarians and others on the left Monday, lawyers for the Obama administration went along with a Bush administration policy designed to keep the details of controversial anti-terror policies secret. In a case filed by five detainees against Boeing and its subsidiaries for their involvement in extraordinary rendition flights, lawyers for the administration made the same state-secrets argument–that details of certain cases are too sensitive to national security to even be discussed in court–that was so controversial during the Bush years. Simultaneously, the administration announced that Attorney General Eric Holder has ordered a review of all claims of state secrets, “to ensure that it is being invoked only in legally appropriate situations.” The controversial state secrets privilege was famously invoked by the Bush administration to fend off legal challenges to its warrantless wiretapping program. (New York Times, Associated Press)
In another piece of fallout from the Bush administration’s war on terror tactics, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has proposed a “truth panel” to investigate Bush anti-terror programs. The panel would be designed to probe misdeeds by former officials relating to issues like torture and the use of intelligence in the lead-up to the Iraq war. At his press conference last night, President Obama appeared lukewarm to the idea, saying that he would rather “get it right moving forward.” (Associated Press)
Jackson, Mississippi mayor Frank Melton may have his bond revoked for trying to personally serve a subpoena to a witness in his case. The mayor has pleaded not guilty to three felony charges that he violated civil rights during an incident in which he destroyed a suspected crack house with a sledgehammer. Melton said that he was simply keeping a campaign promise to root out crime in the city. (Associated Press)
For the second time in as many years, prosecutors expressed frustration with former Washington, D.C. mayor and current city councilman Marion Berry’s inability to file tax returns and urged a judge to throw him in jail. Prosecutors argue that the judge should revoke Barry’s tax probation even though it is weeks away from expiring. Barry responded by calling the actions “frivolous” and says that his tax problems are a “personal matter.” (Washington Post)
Despite acute economic troubles throughout California and widespread budget problems, local governments in that state spent a record amount lobbying the state government in the most recent legislative session. $58 million were spent in the last two years, the most in a decade. The most recent numbers seem to indicate an ongoing upward trend in spending by cities, counties and school districts. (Sacramento Bee)
