JW Sues for FBI Text Messages
January 26, 2018
(Weekly Update: Live with Tom Fitton)
Judicial Watch Sues for Key FBI Text Messages
Judicial Watch Fights Justice Department for Release of Mueller’s Special Counsel Budget Proposal
Judicial Watch Sues for Key FBI Text Messages
A miracle! Your Judicial Watch files a federal lawsuit and the Justice Department finds the “missing” text messages! Of course, as we said all along, they were never missing in the first place.
On Wednesday we announced the filing of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Justice Department for text messages and other records of FBI official Peter Strzok and FBI attorney Lisa Page (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:18-cv-00154)).
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, revealed in a letter dated January 20 that the FBI claimed it is unable to preserve text messages for a five-month period between December 14, 2016, and May 17, 2017, due to “misconfiguration issues” with FBI-issued phones used by Strzok and Page. The missing messages span dates between the presidential transition and the launch of Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, where both Strzok and Page were employed.
So, lo and behold, right after we sued for the texts, the Justice Department said it has found the texts. According to Fox News, Inspector General Michael Horowitz reported that his office “succeeded in using forensic tools to recover text messages from FBI devices, including text messages between Mr. Strzok and Ms. Page that were sent or received between December 14, 2016 and May 17, 2017.”
We sued after Justice failed to respond to our December 4, 2017, FOIA request for:
The text messages are of public interest because Strzok and Page were key investigators in the Clinton email and Trump Russia collusion investigations. Strzok was reportedly removed from the Mueller investigative team in August and reassigned to a human resources position after it was discovered that he and FBI lawyer Lisa Page, who worked for FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, and with whom Strzok was carrying on an extramarital affair, exchanged pro-Clinton and anti-Trump text messages.
Strzok reportedly oversaw the FBI’s interviews of former National Security Adviser, General Michael Flynn; changed former FBI Director James Comey’s language about Hillary Clinton’s actions regarding her illicit email server from “grossly negligent” to “extremely careless;” played a lead role in the FBI’s interview of Clinton; and is suspected of being responsible for using the unverified dossier to obtain a FISA warrant in order to spy on President Trump’s campaign.
The Strzok-Page text messages are potentially responsive to several pending Judicial Watch FOIA lawsuits, but showing the agency’s contempt for transparency and the rule of law, the FBI has yet to produce any of the records, explain the missing records to the courts, or otherwise be forthcoming about these newly disclosed materials.
I didn’t believe for one minute that the Strzok-Page texts were really missing. For example, the IRS told us that Lois Lerner’s emails were “missing,” and we forced them to admit they existed and deliver them to us. The State Department hid the Clinton emails, but our FOIA lawsuits famously blew open that cover-up.
It is shameful that the FBI and DOJ have been playing shell games with these smoking gun text messages. We hope to get these messages through our lawsuit and we will be sure to let you know when we do!
Judicial Watch Fights Justice Department for Release of Mueller’s Special Counsel Budget Proposal
The Justice Department is refusing to release the proposed budget of Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel Office.
Judicial Watch asked for a “copy of the budget prepared or submitted” by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. But, on Friday, January 19, the Justice Department notified Judicial Watch that it refuses to turn over documents, stating: “seven pages were located that contain records responsive to your … request. We have determined that this material should be withheld in full because it is protected from disclosure under the FOIA.”
The Justice Department claims the Mueller budget information cannot be released because its release could interfere with “law enforcement proceedings” and the material is protected from disclosure by the “deliberative process privilege.”
We filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the DOJ on October 5, 2017, after it failed to respond to a July 10, 2017, request (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:17-cv-02079)). Judicial Watch is seeking a copy of the budget submitted by Mueller or his staff; a copy of all guidance communications by which the Justice Management Division will review the Special Counsel’s Office’s “Statement of Expenditures;” and a copy of each document governing the Special Counsel’s Office appointed under the leadership of Mueller.
The Justice Department has thus far ignored Judicial Watch’s requests for documents about its management of the Mueller operation.
The Justice Department also sent Judicial Watch a copy of a previously published document showing expenditures by the Special Counsel’s Office from May 17, 2017, to September 30, 2017. The total was $3,213,695 – nearly a million dollars per month.
On July 7, 2017, The Washington Post reported that Special counsel Mueller submitted a proposed budget to the Justice Department, “but officials declined to make the document public and committed only to releasing reports of the team’s expenditures every six months.”
Judicial Watch is pursuing numerous additional FOIA lawsuits related to the surveillance, unmasking, and illegal leaking targeting President Trump and his associates during the FBI’s investigation of potential Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election. For example, see here, here, and here.
Special Counsel Mueller’s operation is not above the law. The American people have a right to know how much taxpayer money is planned for his massive investigation. No one else in DC seems to be providing oversight of the Mueller operation, so once again it is up to the citizen’s group Judicial Watch to go to fight for accountability.
Until next week …
Tom Fitton
President
Op-Ed: The Impact of Competitive Sports on Education
Jeffrey Herr, Principal
Utah Connections Academy
The youth sports industry in the United States has grown by 55 percent since 2010 and is now a $15.3 billion market according, WinterGreen Research. This growth in youth sports and shift from local recreational teams to traveling competitive teams also demands athletes to dedicate more time to training and practice.
From watching film to training one-on-one with coaches to practicing with a team or individually, young athletes can dedicate anywhere from three to six hours a day perfecting their craft. Weekends are spent playing and traveling to competitive tournaments against other high-level athletes. As athletes spend more time participating in athletic activities and sports, they may also have issues dedicating time to schoolwork.
The same shift is transpiring at a collegiate level where, according to a survey conducted by the NCAA, several student-athletes reported that they practiced an average of 30 hours a week while some athletes reported weekly practice commitments of more than 40 hours. The same survey was cited in a 2015 lawsuit filed against the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and the NCAA, because students claim they had very minimal time to uphold the academic commitments needed to be a student due to the extensive dedication needed for their respective sports.
The struggle of maintaining a healthy school-sport balance is not only seen among collegiate students, but is also a rising issue faced by adolescent athletes. From homework to afterschool practices, the balance can become overwhelming for young athletes.
As the principal of one of the state’s largest virtual public schools, I see numerous students transfer from a traditional brick and mortar school to virtual instruction because of the difficult balance of school and competitive sports. Several of these competitive athletes decide to enroll with the desire to pursue sports with the hopes of obtaining scholarships to Division-1 universities or pursuing professional careers. Other students just need a more efficient way of balancing the two.
Several of our students have successfully transitioned from a traditional school setting while participating in a variety of competitive sports like freestyle skiing, basketball, hockey and competitive dance. As they transition, these athletes are able to manage their time in a way that reduces the stress of both academics and sports. Students can continue a quality education at their own pace while simultaneously training multiple hours a day.
Because students spend more time pacing themselves at their own level, not only did grades improve but so did the overall confidence of the student athlete. For students who wish to pursue collegiate level sports, they are also able to learn how to balance school and athletics because the online program holds students accountable for their work while building upon a framework of independence. As they build on that framework, I believe that it helps students succeed in future endeavors and higher learning.
It is unlikely that the youth-sports industry has any plans of slowing down anytime soon and as more students partake in sports and spend more time competing, it’s important that our educational options evolve to meet the needs of those students and prepare them for a successful future.
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SECRETS
UPCOMING NEW SELF-TITLED ALBUM
TO BE RELEASED FEB 23
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER
San Diego, CA - January 26th, 2018 - SECRETS are set to release their self-titled album, out February 23rd via Made in the Shade Records. The album is currently available for pre-order, and fans will receive an instant-grat download of a new song "Last Time". Pre-order the album through the band's website: www.secretsofficial.com
"'Last Time' is about trying to save someone from their addiction, whether it's drugs, alcohol, or sex," vocalist/guitarist Richard Rogers says, "and finally having to give up on them because they just can't keep hurting themselves as well as the people around them."
Secrets Track Listing
1. Sixteen
2. Fourteen
3. Incredible
4. Strangers
5. Five Years
6. Mouth Breather
7. Lost Cause
8. Last Time
9. Chemical Reaction
10. 03.17.16
11. The End
12. Let Me In
Late last year, the band released "Incredible", followed by "Five Years". Fans can watch the official music video for "Incredible" here: https://youtu.be/ThQc7ANRJu0
Secrets is the follow-up to 2015's Everything That Got Us Here.
In addition to the album announcement, SECRETS will kick off a world tour on February 22 in San Diego, CA.
Upcoming tour dates:
2/22 - San Diego, CA @ Soma
2/23 - Mesa, AZ @ Underground
2/24 - Anaheim, Ca @ Chain Reaction
2/25 - Henderson, NV @ Eagle Aerie Hall
2/27 - Berkeley, CA @ Cornerstone
2/28 - Sacramento, CA @ Holy Diver
3/1 - Portland, OR @ Analog Cafe
3/2 - Spokane, WA @ The Big Dipper
3/3 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
3/4 - Vancouver, BC @ 333
3/7 - Edmonton, Canada @ The Starlite Room
3/8 - Calgary, Canada @ The Gateway
3/9 - Saskatoon, Canada @ Amigo's
3/10 - Regina, Canada @ The Exchange
3/11 - Winnipeg, Canada @ The Good Will
3/12 - Saint Paul Park, MN @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall
3/13 - Berwyn, IL @ The Wire
3/14 - Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch
3/15 - Windsor, Canada @ Windsor Beer Exchange
3/16 - London, Canada @ Rum Runners
3/18 - Hamilton, Canada @ Club Absinthe
3/19 - Kingston, Canada @ Overtime
3/20 - Montreal, Canada @ Bar Le Ritz
3/21 - Ville De Quebec, Canada @ L'anti Bar & Spectacles
3/22 - Ottawa, Canada @ Maverick's
3/23 - Toronto, Canada @ Hard Luck
3/24 - Dayton, OH @ Rockstar Pro Arena
3/25 - Wichita, KS @ Rock Island Live
3/26 - Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
3/27 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Loading Dock
3/29 - Tijuana, Mexico @ You Revolution
3/30 - Monterrey, Mexico @ Cafe Iguana
3/31 - Cuauhtemoc, Mexico @ Palindromo
SECRETS is composed of Richard Rogers, Wade Walters, Michael Sherman and Connor Brannigan.
Follow SECRETS:
Website: http://secretsofficial.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/secretsofficial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SECRETSofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secretsofficial/
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THE DANGEROUS SUMMER
RELEASE LONG AWAITED NEW ALBUM
ON TOUR NOW WITH THE BAND CAMINO, MICROWAVE
January 26th 2018 - The Dangerous Summer have released their highly anticipated and long awaited new full-length, The Dangerous Summer, available now on iTunes, Apple Music, and Spotify. The album was produced by James Paul Wisner (Underoath, Dashboard Confessional, Paramore), and is out now through Hopeless Records. Listen here: smarturl.it/TDSST
In celebration of the record, the band will host an in-store performance and signing at Park Avenue CDs in Orlando on Monday, January 29th at 6 pm. Entry to the event is available with a CD or LP purchase of The Dangerous Summer.
Leading up to The Dangerous Summer, the band released three singles: "Fire", "Ghosts" and "Valium." Videos can be seen on the Hopeless Records YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/HopelessRecords
"You really only get one chance to make a self-titled album in your career," vocalist and bassist AJ Perdomo says. "And we believe that the time has come to define our sound and our band. We spent six months writing and recording this record, and it is an expression of who we are as a band."
Track Listing:
1. Color
2. This Is Life
3. Fire
4. Ghosts
5. Luna
6. Wild Again
7. Valium
8. When I Get Home
9. Live Forever
10. Infinite
"In all of our minds, we thought this was never going to happen again," Perdomo says. "There was a point in my life where I thought I was never going to play another Dangerous Summer song again. But the easiest thing in the world is writing music and playing music together. It's second nature. It feels right again."
The Dangerous Summer is currently on tour with Microwave and The Band Camino. They perform tonight in Austin, TX at Sidewinder.
Upcoming The Dangerous Summer Tour Dates:
w/ Microwave & The Band Camino
1/26 - Austin, TX @ Sidewinder
1/27 - Dallas, TX @ The Dirty 30
1/29 - Orlando, FL @ The Abbey
* 6pm: In-store @ Park Avenue CDs (entry with CD or LP purchase)
1/30 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
1/31 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
2/1 - Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage
2/2 - Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory
2/3 - Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
2/5 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry
2/6 - Millvale, PA @ The Funhouse At Mr. Smalls
2/7 - Toronto, CA @ Hard Luck
2/8 - Lakewood, OH @ The Foundry Concert Club
2/9 - Detroit, MI @ The Shelter
2/10 - Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge
2/11 - Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
2/13 - Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
2/14 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
2/16 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
2/17 - Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
2/18 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge
Stay updated on The Dangerous Summer:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thedangeroussummer
Twitter: www.twitter.com/dangeroussummer
Instagram: @thedangeroussummer
D2C Store: smarturl.it/TDSmerch
