Tag: Margaret Hartmann

In response to the NSA scandal, the government has argued that surveillance is necessary for our safety, and we just need to trust that they’re violating Americans’ privacy as little as possible. It’s a lot harder to make that leap of faith following the revelation that those handling sensitive data might not be checked all that thoroughly. Federal investigators claim they have evidence that USIS, the largest private provider of government background checks, frequently failed to properly complete its investigations of those seeking security clearance, then lied to government to cover their tracks. After all, it’s not like one of their subjects was likely to steal a trove of classified information, post it online, and spark an international manhunt, right?

USIS performed Edward Snowden’s security background check, and officials say that while there were unspecified problems during the process he was eventually cleared to work as a Booz Allen Hamilton contractor at the NSA’s Hawaii office. While recent developments shed more light on the issue, the concerns aren’t new. The Office of Personnel Management, which oversees most of the government’s security background checks, launched a contracting-fraud investigation of USIS in 2011 (just a few months after Snowden was given security clearance). Though the OPM inspector general’s office won’t comment on the case, last week Sen. Claire McCaskill said USIS is the subject of a criminal probe due to a “systematic failure” to conduct background checks.

The company was required to conduct reviews of all of the background checks it performed to make sure nothing had been overlooked. However, from 2008 to 2011 USIS allegedly skipped the second review in as many as half of its cases, then told the government it had performed both checks. Now a federal watchdog tells the Washington Post that he plans to recommend that the government stop using USIS, unless the company can prove that it’s changed its ways.

Making good on that threat would be difficult, as USIS handles about 45 percent of all background checks for OPM, and the system is already plagued by huge backlogs. So even if the allegations are true, the task of determining who should be handling our most sensitive data might remain with a company that lied about cutting corners, but promises not to do it again.

Read more posts by Margaret Hartmann

Filed Under:
spy games
,edward snowden
,usis
,privacy

via Daily Intelligencer http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/06/company-that-vetted-snowden-did-shoddy-work.html

After Rolling Stone quoted Serena Williams saying the Steubenville victim was partially at fault for her rape, the tennis star issued a weak non-apology, vaguely suggesting that she was misquoted. At a Sunday afternoon press conference on the eve of Wimbledon, Williams issued a clearer apology for her rape comments, and expressed remorse for possibly insulting rival Maria Sharapova, though she went on to complain that the reporter was unfairly “eavesdropping” on her conversation.

In the more gossipy of the two controversies to emerge from the article, Williams said on the phone, “She begins every interview with ‘I’m so happy. I’m so lucky’ – it’s so boring … She’s still not going to be invited to the cool parties. And, hey, if she wants to be with the guy with a black heart, go for it.” Writer Stephen Rodrick makes an “educated guess” that she’s talking about Sharapova, who’s dating her ex Grigor Dimitrov. Apparently Sharapova made the same assumption, because she said on Saturday, “If she wants to talk about something personal, maybe she should talk about her relationship, and her boyfriend that was married, and is getting a divorce and has kids.”

Williams never admitted that she was talking about Sharapova, but said she sought out her competitor on Thursday and tried to make amends. “I said: ‘Look, I want to personally apologize to you if you are offended by being brought into my situation. I want to take this moment to just pour myself, be open, say I’m very sorry for this whole situation’.” She went on to note that she’s “used to dealing with professional reporters.” Williams continued:

“I’m used to dealing with these people not writing or commenting on a private conversation that I may have or kind of listening in or eavesdropping and then reporting on it. You guys have completely spoiled me. With that being said, I’ve been in the business for a little over 200 years, so I should definitely, definitely know better.”

As for the Steubenville victim, Williams said she’s talked with the girl and her mother. “We came to a wonderful understanding, and we’re constantly in contact,” said Williams. She added, “I apologize for everything that was said in that article,” but didn’t delve into precisely how her thoughts on rape have changed. “I feel like, you know, you say things without having all the information,” she explained. “It’s really important before you make certain comments to have a full list, have all the information, all the facts.”

Read more posts by Margaret Hartmann

Filed Under:
the sports section
,serena williams
,steubenville
,maria sharapova

via Daily Intelligencer http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/06/serena-williams-is-sorry-still-blames-reporter.html

Eugene Lovendusky, founder of the group Queer Rising, spent much of the past month protesting New York City’s recent uptick in gay-bashings, but over the weekend, he became the victim of yet another bias attack. The 28-year-old Queens resident says he was leaving a club near Times Square with his boyfriend and a friend early on Saturday morning when a group of teenagers started yelling “faggot” at them. “By instinct, I turned around and said, ‘You can’t say that to me,'” Lovendusky tells DNAinfo. He says that’s when one of the teens punched him in the jaw, knocking his glasses off his face.

Lovendusky called 911, and a short time later, police arrested 19-year-old Manuel Riquelme, who was found at a pizzeria with friends on 40th and Ninth Avenue. Riquelme has been charged with felony assault as a hate crime and misdemeanor aggravated harassment. “It’s further proof that anyone no matter how strong or vocal you are in the community can be a victim,” Lovendusky told the Post. “If anything this will only strengthen my resolve.”

Read more posts by Margaret Hartmann

Filed Under:
scary things
,hate crimes
,gay bashing
,gay rights

via Daily Intelligencer http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/gay-rights-activist-targeted-in-anti-lgbt-attack.html

Andrew Cuomo may be the first person to drop out of the 2016 presidential race, though technically no one is running yet. Cuomo has said he isn’t even thinking about 2016 on numerous occasions, though that hasn’t put a stop to the speculation, particularly from his dad. Now a source says he’s resigned himself to the fact that he’s losing the race that currently only exists in political junkies’ minds. “The governor has told people in recent weeks that there’s not a chance for him to run if Hillary gets in the race because she’ll easily wrap up the Democratic nomination,’’ a Cuomo administration insider tells the Post. “He knows that and he accepts that, and so he won’t even be thinking at all in those terms — unless Hillary decides not to run, which seems unlikely.”

Fortunately, people can start pinning their hopes for the (extremely distant) future on another New York politician. Politico has a lengthy article on New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who is “quietly building a résumé that would allow her to be taken seriously should she ever decide to run for president.” Gillibrand, who holds Clinton’s former seat, won’t be running in 2016 either — or anytime soon. Politico notes that Gillibrand has both Clinton and Cuomo standing in her way, and she’s relatively unknown nationally. However, “Remove those issues, and she would be seen as a first-tier presidential candidate by most metrics — especially at a time when both parties are eager to find strong female prospects for the White House.” It’s beginning to look like Gillibrand could be a major player in 2024, presuming no other issues arise in the next decade or so.

Read more posts by Margaret Hartmann

Filed Under:
cuomolot
,politics
,it’s never too early to talk about 2016
,andrew cuomo

via Daily Intelligencer http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/04/cuomo-ends-hypothetical-2016-presidential-bid.html

A Democratic senator declaring his or her support for gay marriage just isn’t as thrilling as it was a few weeks ago, but Florida senator Bill Nelson’s switch is still notable as he’s the 51st senator to endorse same-sex marriage. “If we are endowed by our creator with rights, then why shouldn’t those be attainable by gays and lesbians?” Nelson said in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times on Thursday, adding, “Simply put, if the Lord made homosexuals as well as heterosexuals, why should I discriminate against their civil marriage? I shouldn’t, and I won’t.” Now there are only six Senate Democrats who haven’t jumped on the marriage equality bandwagon.

Read more posts by Margaret Hartmann

Filed Under:
equal rites
,bill nelson
,gay marriage
,poltics

via Daily Intelligencer http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/04/majority-of-the-senate-supports-gay-marriage.html

The fact that John Roberts has a cousin, Jean Podrasky, who is gay was first mentioned in a 2011 profile of the chief justice in Fortune, but at the time she didn’t seem comfortable discussing his stance on marriage equality. Though Podrasky said she wanted the right to marry her girlfriend, all she would say about her cousin’s position was, “I really would never disrespect him by asking him about his cases.” While she still doesn’t know what Roberts thinks about same-sex marriage, now she’s more willing to put public pressure on him. The L.A. Times reports that when the Supreme Court hears arguments in two gay marriage cases this week, Podrasky and her girlfriend will be in seating reserved for Roberts’ guests and family members.

Unfortunately for those trying to read the tea leaves on the chief justice’s gay marriage stance, he didn’t invite his cousin to the courtroom. Podrasky e-mailed Roberts’s sister, who put her in touch with his secretary — though Roberts is aware that she’ll be attending along with several other family members. While Roberts hasn’t shared his thoughts on the issue with Podrasky, she expects the court to overturn Prop 8, allowing her to marry her girlfriend, who lives with her in San Francisco. “He is a smart man,” she said. “He is a good man. I believe he sees where the tide is going. I do trust him. I absolutely trust that he will go in a good direction.”

Podrasky also wrote a column for the National Center for Lesbian Rights that will be e-mailed to members on Monday. “Everyone in this country has a family member who is part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community … ,” she writes. “As a Californian, I want nothing more than to marry my wonderful girlfriend. And as a tax-paying citizen, I seek basic fairness.” Roberts will probably want to relax after listening to arguments on gay marriage for two days, but it sounds like he’s getting an awkward family dinner instead.

Read more posts by Margaret Hartmann

Filed Under:
john roberts
,equal rites
,prop 8
,jean podrasky

via Daily Intelligencer http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/03/john-roberts-lesbian-cousin-is-coming-to-court.html

It’s always seemed unlikely that Congress would reinstate a version of the 1994 assault weapons ban, and Harry Reid is now poised to put the final nail in the coffin. Politico reports that following a meeting with the Senate majority leader on Monday, Dianne Feinstein said the bill she sponsored won’t be part of the Democratic gun bill that might be offered on the Senate floor as early as this week. “My understanding is it will not be [part of the base bill],” Feinstein said. “It will be separate.” The assault weapons ban would be offered as an amendment, which would almost certainly be defeated.

When asked about the reasons behind the decision, Feinstein said, “You will have to ask him [Reid].” The move highlights that it will be difficult to pass any gun control measure in Congress, even without the assault weapons ban. The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a gun trafficking bill, a plan to increase school safety, and a universal background checks proposal backed only by Democrats (efforts to reach a bipartisan deal fell apart, though Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin are still hoping to get a Republican senator on board). Negotiations are still underway, but Politico reports that there are two paths Reid is likely to pursue:

Reid could advance a gun trafficking bill with a school safety provision; some form of background checks and the assault weapons ban would then be offered as amendments. In the other scenario, Reid might offer a background checks bill that includes the gun trafficking and school safety provisions, with assault weapons again offered as an amendment.

The Senate Majority Leader has never been a big proponent of Feinstein’s assault weapons bill. On This Week With George Stephanopoulos last month he wouldn’t commit to supporting it himself, and remarked, “I didn’t vote for the assault weapons last time because it … didn’t make sense.” Though, Reid has promised that “the assault weapons ban gets a vote on the floor.”

Read more posts by Margaret Hartmann

Filed Under:
gun control
,dianne feinstein
,harry reid
,assault weapons ban

via Daily Intelligencer http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/03/assault-weapons-ban-probably-isnt-happening.html

Shashank Tripathi, better known as @comforablysmug, is notorious for creating more panic during Hurricane Sandy by sending out false Tweets about a complete blackout in Manhattan, flooding inside the New York Stock Exchange, and Con Edison workers trapped in a building. Tripathi was threatened with prosecution, quit his job as campaign manager for Republican congressional candidate Christopher R. Wight, and skulked off Twitter after apologizing on October 31, but BuzzFeed notes that he made a less than triumphant return to the site on Sunday.

His latest missives consist mainly of responses to his admirers, but there are also dispatches on his partying:

And foods he’s consumed:

If only we could trust that those are really pulled -pork pancakes.

Read more posts by Margaret Hartmann

Filed Under:
the art of trolling
,comfortably smug
,hurricane sandy

via Daily Intelligencer http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/03/hurricane-sandy-troll-returns-to-twitter.html

Marco Rubio was the loudest critic of the immigration plan leaked by the White House this weekend, and on Tuesday the attacks continued, with Rubio’s office insisting that the Obama administration has never reached out to discuss immigration. Rubio can’t look like he’s working too closely with the White House if he wants to eventually sell his plan to fellow Republicans, but he might have complained a bit too much. After more bickering between the White House and Rubio staffers about Obama’s alleged lack of involvement, the president ended the day by calling each Republican in the Senate’s bipartisan “Gang of Eight” to discuss where they stand on immigration.

The White House said that in the calls to Rubio, Lindsey Graham, and John McCain, the president “thanked the Senators for their leadership,” but made it clear that “he is prepared to submit his own legislation if Congress fails to act.” Following the call, Rubio changed his tune. His spokesman clarified that a representative from the senator’s office has participated in five meetings with White House officials, and said, “The Senator told the President that he feels good about the ongoing negotiations in the Senate, and is hopeful the final product is something that can pass the Senate with strong bipartisan support.”

Despite the public posturing, the Associated Press reports that Senate aides say negotiations are going well, and Obama’s backup plan might even encourage Republicans to rally around the congressional plan. It’s possible that was the whole point of floating parts of the president’s blueprint, though the White House insists the leak was unintentional.

Lawmakers have suggested that their bill might be ready as early as next month, and Obama hasn’t set a deadline for when he’ll send his own plan to Capitol Hill. Other events on Tuesday suggest that for some Republicans, dealing with the White House won’t be the toughest part of the process. McCain held two town hall events in Arizona and was confronted by crowds of constituents who are furious about plans for immigration reform. This local news report provides some insight into the reaction Republican lawmakers might get from their base, and why McCain seems increasingly crotchety.

Read more posts by Margaret Hartmann

Filed Under:
immigration reform
,marco rubio
,barack obama
,politics

via Daily Intelligencer http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/02/gop-senators-drop-immigration-attacks-on-obama.html