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Crime United States Government

DEA Authorized To Conduct Surveillance On Protesters (buzzfeednews.com) 186

An anonymous reader quotes a report from BuzzFeed News: The Drug Enforcement Administration has been granted sweeping new authority to "conduct covert surveillance" and collect intelligence on people participating in protests over the police killing of George Floyd, according to a two-page memorandum obtained by BuzzFeed News. Floyd's death "has spawned widespread protests across the nation, which, in some instances, have included violence and looting," said the DEA memo. "Police agencies in certain areas of the country have struggled to maintain and/or restore order." The memo requests the extraordinary powers on a temporary basis, and on Sunday afternoon a senior Justice Department official signed off.

The DEA is limited by statute to enforcing drug related federal crimes. But on Sunday, Timothy Shea, a former US Attorney and close confidant of Barr who was named acting administrator of the DEA last month, received approval from Associate Deputy Attorney General G. Bradley Weinsheimer to go beyond the agency's mandate "to perform other law enforcement duties" that Barr may "deem appropriate." In addition to "covert surveillance," the memo indicates that DEA agents would be authorized to share intelligence with local and state law enforcement authorities, to "intervene" to "protect both participants and spectators in the protests," and to conduct interviews and searches, and arrest protesters who are alleged to have violated federal law.
Here's why Shea says the agency should be granted extraordinary latitude: "In order for DEA to assist to the maximum extent possible in the federal law enforcement response to protests which devolve into violations of federal law, DEA requests that it be designated to enforce any federal crime committed as a result of protests over the death of George Floyd," Shea wrote in the memo. "DEA requests this authority on a nationwide basis for a period of fourteen days."
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DEA Authorized To Conduct Surveillance On Protesters

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  • by ArchieBunker ( 132337 ) on Wednesday June 03, 2020 @09:04AM (#60139654)

    Nothing is temporary for the government.

    • by syn3rg ( 530741 )
      There is nothing so permanent as a temporary solution.
    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      Why's it gotta be the DEA?

      Because that's the primary domestic slave catcher arm of the government. You know, because 4 police officers killing a black a black man requires the government to look tough, and get tough on those slaves out in the streets.

      • by jythie ( 914043 )
        Pretty much yeah. This is a case of department shopping.. look for one that has the greatest loyalty to the interested parties and then change its mandate to have it cover more cases. The DEA already has a very.. loose.. connection the the law and is pretty comfortable violating it. If you wanted an organization that both behaves like it is above the law AND who's politics align with white nationalism, DEA would be high on the list. CBS and BoP would be the other two and *gasp* Barr has been deploying
    • Now I can understand increased surveillance (but I would say on both the police and the protesters), as when things settle down. We are going to need to figure out who where the innocent folks. Peaceful protesters, Cops trying to keep people safe. And the trouble makers, Violent protesters or other fringe groups trying to make the protesters look worse, police who are being brutal towards citizens.
      This is going to take a long time to clean up.

      However when you say Temporary, you are going to need to give

      • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        It's probably unwise to try to prosecute people who anything but the most serious crimes (like murder) over these riots. It will just be seen as the cops getting their revenge.

        It's a shitty situation but right now it needs to be de-escalated and the issues addressed, not inflamed by adding surveillance.

        • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

          by sycodon ( 149926 )

          Prosecuting rioters is an obligation to the hundreds of millions of Americans that are not rioting, burning, vandalizing, looting, and attacking people.

          • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

            Some people felt that way about crimes committed by the IRA and other groups involved The Troubles. Also in South Africa after apartheid ended, and in East Germany after the USSR fell...

            It's a difficult call to make but sometimes the decision is made that the system was at fault and there isn't much to be gained by going after the individuals.

            • by sycodon ( 149926 )

              This is nothing like any of those situations.

              The system is not at fault. Shitty management is at fault.

              It's just like legions of issues where enforcement of rules and regulations are ignored only to have something worse happen later. Case in point is this cop who had 18 instances of excessive violence complaints. Amy Klobucher had an opportunity to charge and prosecute this cop and declined.

              People don't do their fucking jobs and everyone pays for it later.

            • by malkavian ( 9512 )

              The system isn't broken.
              There's a record of violence in this guy's history. He could (and probably should) have been taken off the street before this, so it's a failing in management at that point.
              When he stepped so far over the line that there was no option but to come down hard, I believe the charges that are going against him are manslaughter, which is correct (as far as I can tell, and as far as could be legally proven). And from everything I hear, that charge is very unlikely to not stick.
              As an ex-co

          • Prosecuting rioters

            Good luck, almost none of the people arrested were rioting, and the behavior of the cops will make it pretty hard to get any evidence admitted. Fruit of the poison tree, nearly all of it.

      • I know you've been here long enough to not RTFA, and most likely not RTFS. But the last sentence of the summary says:

        Shea wrote in the memo. "DEA requests this authority on a nationwide basis for a period of fourteen days."

        Emphasis added.

      • by HiThere ( 15173 )

        You are making assumptions about intentions that I find, at best, dubious and contradicted by a long prior history. The records can be expected to be manipulated to exonerate most of the police actions. And a most of the infiltrators will also escape either identification or punishment. If one can track them down, many will turn out to be agents for some arm of the government or other...at least it's often happened that way in the past. I'll admit that this time there may be a lot more free-lancers...an

        • Things are different, though. You can't only use history for that part, because there were never so many cameras. And facial recognition technology continues to improve; it may be that many people photographed now will be identified in the future.

  • Corrupt government (Score:2, Insightful)

    by stooo ( 2202012 )

    Just another act of a very corrupt government

    • Yep. This probably won't stand up to a court challenge, but the time it will take for it to move through the courts is enough time for them to shift the narrative to, "We've been doing this for so long....congress might as well make it legal."

  • Not His to Give (Score:5, Insightful)

    by StormReaver ( 59959 ) on Wednesday June 03, 2020 @09:17AM (#60139686)

    Unless that same statute that limits the DEA's authority also allows this type of expansion, Associate Deputy Attorney General G. Bradley Weinsheimer doesn't have the authority to grant this authority.

  • by jenningsthecat ( 1525947 ) on Wednesday June 03, 2020 @09:19AM (#60139688)

    that I don't live in the States. But I wish to hell that I didn't live right next door.

    I also wish the sensible, level-headed people who live there weren't being subjected to the lunacy currently unfolding. My condolences, and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

    • Believe me, as one of those level-headed people next door I'm starting to think that maybe the country next door is a better match for my level-headedness.
  • I figure the protesters have a lot of drugs. So this makes sense.

  • FBI (Score:5, Insightful)

    by alvinrod ( 889928 ) on Wednesday June 03, 2020 @09:22AM (#60139700)
    Isn't the FBI already responsible for investigating and otherwise dealing with federal crimes, so is there some particular reason that the DEA needs to be dragged into this?

    We already have too many three letter agencies as is and I can't see a good reason to expand their authority or scope either.
    • Re:FBI (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Nidi62 ( 1525137 ) on Wednesday June 03, 2020 @09:46AM (#60139850)

      Isn't the FBI already responsible for investigating and otherwise dealing with federal crimes, so is there some particular reason that the DEA needs to be dragged into this?

      They are bringing in the DEA because they have access to drones, helicopters, and other aviation assets. They've already pulled a bunch of CBP agents to help with the protests as well. The FBI has helicopters, but those are meant more for tactical situations rather than surveillance, with DEA has surveillance aircraft since that is a big part of their duties.

      • +1 (Score:4, Insightful)

        by JBMcB ( 73720 ) on Wednesday June 03, 2020 @11:09AM (#60140300)

        The FBI has tactical units, but they are geared toward small manhunt-style operations. When they are involved in larger operations they call in local police or national guard for backup.

        The DEA has large tactical units meant to break up large drug operations. Watch Youtube videos of DEA drug busts - they have a LOT of officers in armor.

        So if your goal is crowd control, the DEA is better equipped.

        Of course, this goes way out of their pervue, and is most likely unconstitutional. It's the state's job to handle civil unrest, unless a state government specifically calls for federal backup.

  • I'll be great when (Score:5, Insightful)

    by thegarbz ( 1787294 ) on Wednesday June 03, 2020 @09:30AM (#60139748)

    Slashdot can go back to reporting on local American news rather than 3rd world authoritarian shithole nations who suppress protestors with government force.

  • by bobstreo ( 1320787 ) on Wednesday June 03, 2020 @09:30AM (#60139750)

    to investigate police brutality claims instead? It doesn't seem like anyone is interested in doing that.

    Protesters should be free to protest. Peacefully.

    Rioters and looters should be identified, detained, and charged appropriately.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      It would defeat the purpose to have the police arrest the troublemakers, how can they justify brutally supressing peaceful protestors if there is no vandalism and looting (possibly from police agitators).
      • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 ) on Wednesday June 03, 2020 @10:41AM (#60140138) Homepage Journal

        They don't even need to justify it any more. A lot of it is getting caught on camera and none of those responsible will be prosecuted. This is exactly what the protesters are angry about, there is almost zero accountability.

        • by malkavian ( 9512 )

          There's a lot of accountability overall.
          What is happening though is that there is context put into account. If you have the police as a touchy feely group, they'll never be able to catch the real bad guys (just the token ones).
          If you have the police too tough so that they're really good at capturing the real bad guys, you'll be hiring people who are really too brutal to be truly effective at protecting the civilian population (which they're tasked to do).
          What many of the people seem to be saying is "Protec

  • DEA has drones, that's the basic reason I suspect.

    There aren't enough DEA agents vs FBI or other agencies to meaningfully change the dynamic, but they do have a lot of drones. So I imagine the real goal here is to get around pesky surveillance rules. Particularly after the blowback from using ICE drones in Minnesota.

  • Oh good (Score:5, Interesting)

    by skam240 ( 789197 ) on Wednesday June 03, 2020 @09:33AM (#60139760)

    Oh good, the Drug Enforcement Agency https://www.dea.gov/about [dea.gov] is being tasked with watching protesters. I mean, who really cares about the opioid epidemic anyways, right?

    This just seems stupid to me. The FBI and likely one or two other massive government agencies already do this and if they need help doing this then the DEA can lend them help and resources. I mean, by the time the DEA reorients itself to this completely different objective from their chartered purpose the protests will be over.

    I'm not one for conspiracy but if there was ever a situation calling for government creep conspiracies this would be it. Course most of the people who spin those are Trump fans and so far loyalty to the Trump cult has eclipsed (no, I won't use a "Trump" pun) loyalty to conservative ideals (at least the non-social ones)

    • The war on the opioid epidemic was starting to ensnare wealthy families who own the companies that made the opioids. Can't have that! Much safer to go after the protesters who are almost universally poor and powerless.
    • Yeah, the DEA only has 10,000+ employees, it's not like they can do two things at once - and one of those things for a period of 14 days...
      • Mmmhmm...
        How's that "FREEDUMB" act they 'temporarily' passed 19 fucking years ago working for you? Feel safer yet?
        Nope, because of you did all that money going to the ruling class would dry up! Can't have that!

        So is it Eastasia or Eurasia that we're at way with today? Oh sorry, the Three Minute Hate is on Fox news and CNN, gotta go before someone reports me to the thought police!
        #BrotherTrumpLovesYou

  • by Headw1nd ( 829599 ) on Wednesday June 03, 2020 @09:46AM (#60139852)

    Since the DEA has done so well at its core function of preventing the distribution of illegal narcotics, and has such an amazing record of respecting civil liberties while searching residences, seizing property, and conducting safe and fair arrests, I can't think of anyone better to undertake this new surveillance program.

    I certainly hope that the DEA has the same success in their new duty, and can make these sorts of civil disturbances as rare on the streets as they have made drugs.

  • Russia / China (Score:2, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward
    IMO the most defining point of a democracy, is NOT what freedom it defines to you (e.g. whether you get free speech or if supporting nazi is forbidden) but rather whether you get smashed in the head if you try to make use of those right. As such the US is as much a failure as Russia/China. The irony is that most American still think they are the freest democracy of the world, but have not yet realized they are only a plutocracy.
  • The first amendment is highly addictive and a poison to authoritarianism. It only makes sense the government would try to take it away, for our safety of course.
    • by malkavian ( 9512 )

      Ahh.. So you advocate anarchy, when it's not the Government that tries to constrain you, but a random person from a few streets away who'll happily murder you for the tin of beans he wants..

  • Please (Score:4, Interesting)

    by c_g_hills ( 110430 ) <chaz.chaz6@com> on Wednesday June 03, 2020 @10:06AM (#60139964) Homepage Journal
    Hopefully they will use those powers to detain and charge some of the cops performing illegal acts. There is more than enough evidence to support several convictions.
  • I suppose law enforcers who know a little something about drugs might not get as easily high on their own adrenaline as some cops do.

  • Here's why Shea says the agency should be granted extraordinary latitude: "In order for DEA to assist to the maximum extent possible in the federal law enforcement response to protests which devolve into violations of federal law, DEA requests that it be designated to enforce any federal crime committed as a result of protests over the death of George Floyd," Shea wrote in the memo. "DEA requests this authority on a nationwide basis for a period of fourteen days."

    So the DEA will be there to assist in identification of law enforcement officers that attack peaceful protesters, members of the media, and other non-violent observers?

  • It is Amazing how fast liberty will disappear when one side is supporting government tyranny to further their own goals.

  • by smooth wombat ( 796938 ) on Wednesday June 03, 2020 @11:18AM (#60140330) Journal

    For various reasons I have stopped voting for Republicans at any level of government. The party has devolved into some weird amalgamation of theological fascism. Their repeated and ongoing violations of the First Amendment's separation of church and state (witness the fiasco of the con artist gassing protestors so he could hold up a bible backwards and in front of a church), the acceptance of criminality and corruption (Iran-Contra and obstruction of Congress), the obeyance to corporations over working for the people, and a multitude of other unforgivable acts which have now culminated in turning a blind eye to white supremacists marching in the streets or murdering civilians, "protestors" illegally blocking streets and hospitals with guns drawn while threatening hospital workers, an anti-science, anti-education platform which has resulted in doctors and scientists receiving death threats, threats which Republicans encourage and condone, as well as the ongoing attempt to insert big government into everyone's daily life and the subjugation of women.

    This blatantly illegal and contemptible expansion of a government agency's powers by a group of thugs who deliberately ignore the Constitution, deliberately ignore what the law says, deliberately insert their twisted and warped belief that a president should have the powers of a king until a Democrat gets in office, are more than sufficient to give rise to throwing them all out so the travesties they have inflicted on this country can be undone.

    As a lifelong Republican I'm done voting for my party. I vote against anyone who calls themselves a "conservative" and vote against anyone the party deems worthy. Any claim Republicans might once have had about smaller government and limited spending has been demolished by their actions which have resulted in an out of control debt and the boot heel of government pressing more firmly on the public's neck.

    At this point, voting for Republicans is equivalent to voting for Nazis. Yes, I went there and yes it is justified.

    • I used to be pretty proud about researching politicians carefully to decide who to vote for, and this resulting in a split ticket most of the time, but I'm pretty much with you at this point.
    • by enigma32 ( 128601 ) on Wednesday June 03, 2020 @12:59PM (#60140932)

      I'm in a similar boat.

      However, in order for this to make a difference, the Democrats also need to give more attention to the needs and wants of extremely rural areas. Otherwise the problem is doomed to continue.

    • For various reasons I have stopped voting for Republicans at any level of government. [...snipped drunken rambling...]

      So, a vote for a democrat, the party who boasts someone who refused to prosecute Chauvin for his many previous acts of brutality? You know, if it wasn't for a democrat's refusal to prosecute, Chauvin might be in jail now and Floyd might still be alive.

    • At this point, voting for Republicans is equivalent to voting for Nazis. Yes, I went there and yes it is justified.

      Meanwhile, "no borders no wall no USA at all, and this is a gun-free zone, and if you don't use my preferred pronoun you're a hate-speech criminal" Definitely a high regard for the constitution, there.

      How about that use of federal agencies and the FISA court to target their political opposition under the color of law? Nothing like the Stasi, nosir, not at all.

      As a former Democrat, seems something needs to be done to replace these parties with something sane and not beholden to massive corporations only. But

  • ... and all the other specialty law enforcement agencies (like the ATF). If it's a violation of federal law, let the FBI handle it. If it's a regulatory issue concerning legal activities, then let an agency like the FDA oversee it.

    The FBI is in a better position to allocate resources to actual criminal problems rather than having to justify their congressional charter. If they figure that people using weed just don't contribute to other problems, then they can shift resources to where they are needed.

  • The Drug Enforcement Administration has been granted sweeping new authority to "conduct covert surveillance" and collect intelligence on people participating in protests over the police killing of George Floyd, ...

    The them you're protesting about something else - problem solved. :-)

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