310 results found for "witnesses"

By 10/16/2015

Crucial Background to New Redford Movie on Bush and Rather, Part 2

In 2004, CBS News was offered documents confirming that George W. Bush had dodged the draft during the Vietnam War. Dan Rather aired a report based on these documents and within a suspiciously short time, they were alleged to be false. The story “blew up” in Rather’s face, forcing his early retirement. Russ Baker, who was in Texas at the time, found telling indications that the documents were likely a clever ruse to trap CBS and convince others that investigating Bush’s past was hazardous.

By 09/03/2015

The Ferguson Report, Part 2: African-Americans: No Longer Cash Cow for the City?

In our excerpts from The Ferguson Report, Part 1: Breathing While Black, and Other Offenses, we presented a number of shocking incidents that showed what African-Americans were subjected to every day by the Ferguson Police Department. These outrages were driven by racism at its rawest. But there was another dimension to this predatory behavior: Money. The more tickets the police wrote, the more money they earned for the city. And the more brownie points they earned for themselves. In Part 2 of this two-part series, we present excerpts that show — in appalling detail — how those in authority encouraged illegal predation, and even threatened punishment for police officers who preferred to play it straight. We also present a short happy report on some of the dramatic reforms that are taking place.

By 08/29/2015

Classic/2012: Reconsidering the “Lockerbie Bomber”

In this piece, which originally appeared here in 2012, Russ Baker shares problems with the official explanation of who did what in the bombing of a Pan Am plane that crashed in Lockerbie, Scotland and made an international pariah of Libya.

By 07/09/2015

Marathon Bomber Appeals Conviction: Do His Lawyers Know Something We Don’t?

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s lawyers continue the legal formalities necessary to build a case for appeal, despite an unequivocal admission by the defendant of his own guilt. Is there anything to be gleaned from an appeals trial about the backstory of the Boston Marathon bombing? Something that may help the public understand the shadowy relationship between the national security apparatus and “domestic terrorists”?

By 07/08/2015

The FBI’s Trickery, China’s Slide & Pot Profits: July 8, 2015

  NOW LIVE ON WhoWhatWhy FBI’s Amazing Trick to Avoid Accountability By Matt Connolly Only the astonishingly unaccountable FBI could get away with consistently not recording its investigative interviews not only of suspects but of witnesses—then having its agents write up reports based on “memory.” A former Deputy District Attorney tells the story of one […]

By 07/08/2015

FBI’s Amazing Trick to Avoid Accountability

Only the astonishingly unaccountable FBI could get away with consistently not recording its investigative interviews not only of suspects but of witnesses—then having its agents write up reports based on “memory.” A former Deputy District Attorney tells the story of one judge who felt uncomfortable letting the Bureau wing it when he himself was in the hot seat.

By 06/18/2015

Looking for a Longer Jail Sentence? Cooperate with FBI!

A friend of convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was sentenced to six years in prison—after cooperating with the FBI in its investigation. Other known Tsarnaev associates who did not cooperate were let off without so much as a questioning. What is going on here?

By 05/20/2015

Tsarnaev Case Judge: FBI Interview Reports Are Unreliable—And Cast in Stone

In allowing FBI interview reports to be read in court in lieu of witness testimony, US District Court Judge George O’Toole inadvertently highlighted an insidious tactic used by the FBI to manipulate witness statements. Anyone who gets a knock at the door from an FBI agent would be well advised to invite an attorney over before opening the door—or your mouth.