Six veterans are suing the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Department over experiments they were subject to without their consent. The veterans say that although, during the Cold War, they volunteered for tests, they were not told the tests would include chemical and biological weapons and mind-control techniques. (Associated Press)
A Pentagon-focused advisory group will release a report today that’s expected to be highly critical of the Defense Department’s oversight of its nuclear weapons programs. The report comes on the heels of a separate report issued in September that slammed the Air Force for several embarrassing episodes, including a bomber flying cross country while mistakenly carrying nuclear-tipped cruise missiles. The report will recommend creation of a top-level oversight position. (Associated Press)
The new Congress kicked off its session Wednesday with two votes, one that will require public disclosure of presidential library donations and another making it harder to conceal presidential records from the public record. The library bill will not work retroactively; the document bill will overturn Bush’s executive order of November 2001 allowing sitting and former presidents to delay document release for years. (Associated Press)
The criminal investigation into the CIA’s destruction of surveillance tapes from 2005 showing interrogation of suspected terrorists may be coming to a close. The U.S. Attorney on the case said in a recent affidavit that he expects all remaining interviews to be completed by the end of February. It is not known whether charges might be brought against anyone. The New York Times first reported on the destroyed tapes in December 2007. (Federation of American Scientists)
An appeal by former Enron executive Jeffrey Skilling has been rejected, although the ruling may pave the way for an eventual new trial. Judges in the appeal make note of “troubling” signs of misconduct on the part of prosecutors; this may grant favor to yet another appeal. Prosecutors failed to share the contents of an interview with a key witness who testified against Skilling. (New York Times)
A Baltimore councilwoman was indicted Wednesday for accepting a bribe from a developer in exchange for a yes vote on tax breaks for buildings that the developer was working on. The councilwoman, Helen Holton, was charged with bribery and perjury in office. The developer was also indicted on one count of bribery. (AP)
