Secrets and Laws
@secretsandlaws.bsky.social
Former CIA attorney, addressing all things relating to national security, secrecy, classification, FOIA, climate change, and bird law.
Defense wins championships, even in baseball.
November 2, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Defense wins championships, even in baseball.
If you work for the Trump/Bondi Justice Department and tell the truth, you will be fired.
Federal judges should take note.
Federal judges should take note.
October 29, 2025 at 1:54 PM
If you work for the Trump/Bondi Justice Department and tell the truth, you will be fired.
Federal judges should take note.
Federal judges should take note.
Stop calling them "anonymous" donations (for the ballroom and military pay). The donors are fully known to the government. The Trump Administration is just letting the donors hide their identity from the American people.
I can't think of any non-corrupt reasons to allow this.
I can't think of any non-corrupt reasons to allow this.
October 28, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Stop calling them "anonymous" donations (for the ballroom and military pay). The donors are fully known to the government. The Trump Administration is just letting the donors hide their identity from the American people.
I can't think of any non-corrupt reasons to allow this.
I can't think of any non-corrupt reasons to allow this.
Don't think I'll ever get over the fact that Trump's decision to skip Biden's inauguration like a petulant child tanked Smith's prosecution (forcing the case to S.D. Fla.) -- thereby helping him get reelected and changing the course of world history.
Sigh.
Sigh.
October 27, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Don't think I'll ever get over the fact that Trump's decision to skip Biden's inauguration like a petulant child tanked Smith's prosecution (forcing the case to S.D. Fla.) -- thereby helping him get reelected and changing the course of world history.
Sigh.
Sigh.
Excellent reporting here from @carolleonnig.bsky.social about Jack Smith's fateful decision to bring the classified documents case in S.D. Fla. rather than DC, as well as the deliberations over seeking Cannon's removal. PTSD warning.
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
How Jack Smith’s strongest case against Donald Trump collapsed
Seeking to get the classified documents case to a jury before the 2024 election, the special counsel made a fateful decision that some in his office saw as a misstep.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Excellent reporting here from @carolleonnig.bsky.social about Jack Smith's fateful decision to bring the classified documents case in S.D. Fla. rather than DC, as well as the deliberations over seeking Cannon's removal. PTSD warning.
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
The fact that Bessent had a good reputation on Wall Street prior to joining the Trump Administration tells you everything you need to know about Wall Street.
October 26, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The fact that Bessent had a good reputation on Wall Street prior to joining the Trump Administration tells you everything you need to know about Wall Street.
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Imagine the insane shit that this guy has in his text messages.
October 21, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Imagine the insane shit that this guy has in his text messages.
@annabower.bsky.social, did you happen to ask her any questions about insurance law???
Are we sure Lindsey Halligan was even competent as an insurance lawyer?
News stories seem to assume she was, but count me as skeptical.
News stories seem to assume she was, but count me as skeptical.
October 21, 2025 at 1:46 AM
@annabower.bsky.social, did you happen to ask her any questions about insurance law???
Imagine the insane shit that this guy has in his text messages.
October 21, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Imagine the insane shit that this guy has in his text messages.
Reposted by Secrets and Laws
Reposted by Secrets and Laws
The Unemployment Fraud part of George Santos' guilty plea--in which he victimized NY State's DOL--was committed in 2020 to 2021, meaning there may be another year to charge him there.
There's more that might be chargeable.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
There's more that might be chargeable.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
October 18, 2025 at 9:12 AM
The Unemployment Fraud part of George Santos' guilty plea--in which he victimized NY State's DOL--was committed in 2020 to 2021, meaning there may be another year to charge him there.
There's more that might be chargeable.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
There's more that might be chargeable.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Apparently at FIU, “economic freedom” means wrecking your nation’s economy, getting a $40 billion bail-out from a fellow-authoritarian, and never having to say you’re sorry.
October 17, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Apparently at FIU, “economic freedom” means wrecking your nation’s economy, getting a $40 billion bail-out from a fellow-authoritarian, and never having to say you’re sorry.
Papal infallibility takes another blow.
A man in the crowd shouted, "Go Cubs!"
The Pope, grinning, shouted back: "Han perdido! They lost!" ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports...
The Pope, grinning, shouted back: "Han perdido! They lost!" ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports...
Pope Leo had 2 simple words to troll Cubs fan who yelled at him
Pope Leo kept it simple responding to a Chicago Cubs fan.
ftw.usatoday.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Papal infallibility takes another blow.
Who's gonna be the first person to present a fake Nobel Prize to Trump in the Oval Office?
The competition is going to be intense!
The competition is going to be intense!
October 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Who's gonna be the first person to present a fake Nobel Prize to Trump in the Oval Office?
The competition is going to be intense!
The competition is going to be intense!
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We’ve called so many things “tipping points” that the public can’t tell when one really tips. Antarctic sea ice may have just crossed a threshold for real. The crisis is clearer than the language.
apple.news/A5tAA09s3SQm...
apple.news/A5tAA09s3SQm...
Antarctica may have crossed a tipping point that leads to rising seas — New Scientist
Scientists are beginning to understand the sudden loss of sea ice in Antarctica – and there is growing evidence that it represents a permanent shift with potentially catastrophic consequences
apple.news
October 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
We’ve called so many things “tipping points” that the public can’t tell when one really tips. Antarctic sea ice may have just crossed a threshold for real. The crisis is clearer than the language.
apple.news/A5tAA09s3SQm...
apple.news/A5tAA09s3SQm...
Halligan and the two new AUSAs probably don't even know what CIPA is. This should be fun.
The judge, for his part, warned the government that the case shouldn't get off track because of classified information issues.
Either the information will be declassified or we'll go through the "fastest CIPA process you've ever seen in your life," he said.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
Either the information will be declassified or we'll go through the "fastest CIPA process you've ever seen in your life," he said.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
The government's lack of a plan prompted Comey's counsel, Fitzgerald, to say that the prosecution "put the cart before the horse."
Usually, you figure out classified information issues in consultation w/ DOJ's national security division *before* bringing a case, he said.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
Usually, you figure out classified information issues in consultation w/ DOJ's national security division *before* bringing a case, he said.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
October 8, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Halligan and the two new AUSAs probably don't even know what CIPA is. This should be fun.
Are we sure Lindsey Halligan was even competent as an insurance lawyer?
News stories seem to assume she was, but count me as skeptical.
News stories seem to assume she was, but count me as skeptical.
October 8, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Are we sure Lindsey Halligan was even competent as an insurance lawyer?
News stories seem to assume she was, but count me as skeptical.
News stories seem to assume she was, but count me as skeptical.
Fun Fact: I once worked on a high profile prosecution in EDVA with Pat Fitzgerald and his team of AUSAs, all of whom were from outside the district. Let's just say that these Virginia judges do not take kindly to outside agitators, even those from the Department of Justice.
At one point during the hearing, the judge asked the prosecution why the case can’t be tried before mid-December.
Lemons replied: We are “just getting our hands around” discovery in the case.
There’s lots of it, he added, and it includes a “significant” amount of classified information.
Lemons replied: We are “just getting our hands around” discovery in the case.
There’s lots of it, he added, and it includes a “significant” amount of classified information.
October 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Fun Fact: I once worked on a high profile prosecution in EDVA with Pat Fitzgerald and his team of AUSAs, all of whom were from outside the district. Let's just say that these Virginia judges do not take kindly to outside agitators, even those from the Department of Justice.
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This is *exactly* right. The purpose of the shadow docket would be basically the opposite of this—e.g. to step in if a circuit court were going to allow summary deportations that placed individuals in danger. The conservative justices’ actions here are perverse.
‼️ literally. I know I've written about this before (most recently, when the Court gave our Social Security data to Big Balls) but it bears repeating imo that the theoretical purpose of emergency shadow docket relief is to prevent serious, imminent real world harm
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/big-b...
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/big-b...
October 3, 2025 at 10:10 PM
This is *exactly* right. The purpose of the shadow docket would be basically the opposite of this—e.g. to step in if a circuit court were going to allow summary deportations that placed individuals in danger. The conservative justices’ actions here are perverse.
Maturity is recognizing that your favorite artist's new album might not be that good, and being totally fine with that.
Sincerely,
A Pearl Jam fan
Sincerely,
A Pearl Jam fan
October 3, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Maturity is recognizing that your favorite artist's new album might not be that good, and being totally fine with that.
Sincerely,
A Pearl Jam fan
Sincerely,
A Pearl Jam fan
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The coal industry has been shrinking for a reason: Coal is no longer cost-competitive.
There are more students enrolled at say Penn State than there are workers left in the coal industry (about 40k).
There are more students enrolled at say Penn State than there are workers left in the coal industry (about 40k).
October 1, 2025 at 12:35 AM
The coal industry has been shrinking for a reason: Coal is no longer cost-competitive.
There are more students enrolled at say Penn State than there are workers left in the coal industry (about 40k).
There are more students enrolled at say Penn State than there are workers left in the coal industry (about 40k).
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Let’s spell this out. Trump fired a qualified U.S. attorney who refused to do his bidding and installed his own personal lawyer to punish a perceived opponent. Justice needs to follow the law, not politics.
This is an attack on the rule of law. Full stop.
This is an attack on the rule of law. Full stop.
Former FBI Director James Comey indicted days after Trump demanded his DOJ move 'now' to prosecute enemies
Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted just days after President Trump issued a public demand for the DOJ to act "now" to prosecute him, sources say.
abcnews.go.com
September 26, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Let’s spell this out. Trump fired a qualified U.S. attorney who refused to do his bidding and installed his own personal lawyer to punish a perceived opponent. Justice needs to follow the law, not politics.
This is an attack on the rule of law. Full stop.
This is an attack on the rule of law. Full stop.
There are two women sitting in front of me on my flight, and one of them decided to pull up her birthing video on her laptop, where the videographer recorded every detail you could imagine. Every detail.
Why are we doing this on airplanes?
Why are we doing this on airplanes?
September 25, 2025 at 11:42 PM
There are two women sitting in front of me on my flight, and one of them decided to pull up her birthing video on her laptop, where the videographer recorded every detail you could imagine. Every detail.
Why are we doing this on airplanes?
Why are we doing this on airplanes?
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A US-funded nutrition program was helping to keep this woman’s baby alive. Days after the program was cut, he died. https://cnn.it/4ndDYbl
A US-funded nutrition program was helping to keep this woman’s baby alive. Days after the program was cut, he died | CNN
Weeds cover the grave of Yagana Usman’s baby – a painful reminder of the months that have passed since she lost her infant twin to malnutrition. Her surviving twin’s fate now hinges in part on decisio...
cnn.it
September 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
A US-funded nutrition program was helping to keep this woman’s baby alive. Days after the program was cut, he died. https://cnn.it/4ndDYbl