Subject: Weekly Reader: Controversy at the Justice Department
From: "Andre, Project On Government Oversight" <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 07:00:04 -0600

http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=1JAVkl0UdDRBaYi9o_L7WQ

December 13, 2014          

Editor's Choice

Justice Department Downplays Evidence of Politics in Probe of Governor

A federal prosecutor brought politics into an investigation of former Alabama Gov. Donald E. Siegelman before the Democrat was charged with public corruption, convicted, and, in 2007, sent to prison. Read more on POGO.org.
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=0dCPJuurg42nzqqPefXguQ

POGO Asks Pentagon for Better Tracking of Service Contracts

Last month, the Project On Government Oversight sent a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warning of a "concerted effort" by Department of Defense (DoD) officials to "willfully breach laws and congressional mandates" that require better tracking of service contracts. This effort by the Pentagon blinds it to potentially billions of dollars in wasteful spending. Read more on POGO's blog.
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=GEimvXkRB3bcovDpG3FMhQ

Justice Department Lawyers Who Engage in Misconduct Sometimes Escape Discipline, Watchdog Finds

The Government Accountability Office has found that Department of Justice lawyers who engage in misconduct sometimes escape discipline. And those that are disciplined are sometimes given financial rewards or promotions within a year of being disciplined. Read more on POGO's blog.
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=_oKPLmz1uD1KlnPM1WQGZg

From the World of POGO

Speaker Boehner's Inaction Will Kill FOIA Reform

Many of you got involved on social media to advocate for Freedom of Information Act reform, but, unfortunately, it was held up by Speaker John Boehner. Read Danielle Brian's statement urging Speaker Boehner to pass the bill.
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=L9r4V9DehxhK4qN-zfxq3A

Transparency is Not Just Television

Beth Simone Noveck argues that simply televising government proceedings does not provide the kind of transparency that could really help improve government. Currently there are all kinds of data roadblocks that are keeping vital information out of the public's hands, which can contribute to the public's lack of engagement in politics. Read more at the Sunlight Foundation.
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=xIYq3sbFWBYVegjWWd5mrQ

Tweets of the Week

FOIA reform passed the U.S. House & Senate unanimously, but it won't become law. http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=rY20whzob9ar9ammE9H6iw pic.twitter.com/PrC69tzwNT http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=SCEfgLeY7xsn7q1sLPl7Fg
- Alex Howard (@digiphile) December 11, 2014
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=l1y-MgAalcrLVz3HDGzf4g

Psychologists' $81M Torture Contract Exposes #CIA 'Remarkably Broad' Acquisition Authorities & an INSANE Pay Rate! http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=QTud8gDDyvwo0Axxw-ethQ
- Scott Amey (@SAmeyJD) December 11, 2014
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=8piEBVQCAHB0Zm_vdRsg3A

"Lawmakers work best when the public & the press keep a close eye on them"-@kelly_j_obrien http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=PVB-cPC8xmkE0FiMbYrPNg #OpenGov
- E Pluribus Unum (@EPluribusUnum) December 12, 2014
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=KHW86xkx_YUv0xQ7HtKHoA

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