Court filing: DOGE aide broke Treasury policy by emailing unencrypted database A now-former DOGE aide violated US Treasury policy by emailing an unencrypted database containing people's private information to two Trump administration officials, according to a court document filed Friday. That filing pertains to a February lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James and 18 other state AGs …
> The newscycle has now reached picohertz frequencyies
Herz, the SI-unit of frequency, is defined as "number of periodically repeating events in the span of 1 second"
The prefix "pico" denotes 10 to the negative 12th power or 1E-12
Therefore, a "picohertz" would denote 1E-12 events per second, or roughly 1 event every 31709 years, give or take.
I think news cycles are a bit quicker than that ;-)
I take the liberty to reply even if not addressed
Firstly, AC was not referring to what this person did but to his employment. Secondly, yes, I would be OK with him being employed if it was a transgender "black LGBTXYZ.... man". Unless said "black LGBTXYZ.... man" had posted racist slurs across the interwebs.
And thirdly, you are then OK with the state employing openly racist idiots? And you are OK with the state discriminating against people who do not fit the white, male, heterosexual stereotype?!
And yes, I can also read things into your comment that you did not express explicitly.
"Assuming they are posting from the USA, it's roughly a 50/50 chance of being right. There are only two sexes now :-)"
There always were only 2 sexes. Some like to argue sex and gender is different. I read the NHS is having problems now with incorrect data collection using preferred and not collecting actual sex which is a problem for screening health problems.
Yeap, I'm a racist/homophobic/transphobic twat and proud of it. Stop throwing them in my face and I'll stop being a racist/homophobic/transphobic twat.
You are (normally) born either with a penis or a vagina, so deal with it. You are born black/white/yellow or a mix of those colors. Deal with it.
Stop emphasizing the color/gender and we can get togher just fine. Keep throwing them in my face and I'll fight back.
"Yeap, I'm a racist/homophobic/transphobic twat and proud of it."
So you're being pretty clear that you made the original comment for that reason?
"Stop throwing them in my face and I'll stop being a racist/homophobic/transphobic twat. [..] Keep throwing them in my face and I'll fight back."
Stop calling you out on being a racist/homophobic/transphobic twat, and you'll stop being a racist/homophobic/transphobic twat, otherwise you'll keep on being a racist/homophobic/transphobic twat- and proud of it- and that somehow makes it our fault, not yours?
You sound like the "That attitude is what's pushing me to be racist!" guy.
Now this I find interesting. I've encountered all kinds of different people, from gender-fluid, self-acclaimed progressive leftie to thoroughbred neo-nazi to transsexuals to conspirationalised moron. Some were rather outspoken, and proud, of whatever they considered their defining identity, others less so. But not once was I under the impression that some outspoken person was throwing anything in my face (besides the odd drink, but that's a different story). Not one single time did I feel threatened by whatever they "threw" in my face.
Back to you, AC: what makes you feel threatened by someone's assumed identity? I'm genuinely interested in hearing from you. Just let me be clear, you are NOT the victim.
"Back to you, AC: what makes you feel threatened by someone's assumed identity?"
(not the AC)
Too often, the person with alternate reality to the societal norm goes on to demand special dispensation based on their "special" status. I'm fine with people being what they want to be as long as they don't then make demands for privileges that I don't get. They also need to understand that if I have a business with an opening for a public facing role, I'm not going to be hiring the person with the extreme tatts and piercings.
Sell it to them that they are getting close to their hero...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler_Has_Only_Got_One_Ball
Well, I believe that people should marry for love, not money. Although this has, historically not always been the case for many people, who had to marry within their 'class'. (There is a belief that when Elizabeth Bowes-Lion married Prince George, she 'married beneath her', as his elder brother, Edward, was destined to become king, but that's 'royalty' for you.)
But as far as this 'gentleman' is concerned, I suspect that there was quite a sigh of relief amongst some people at hearing that he wouldn't consider marrying their daughter / son (some states in the USA still have gay marriage, I believe).
Elongated Muskrat: The "lion" bit is a false flag to divert your attention away from their being 7-foot lizards
Well, actually they are Slitheen (see https://www.doctorwho.tv/characters/slitheen ).
But writing "Bowes-Lion" instead of "Bowes-Lyon" was entirely my own ignorance and stupidity (and possibly a warning of impending senility, as I have been making quite a few mistakes recently - saying James Bond worked for MI5, instead of MI6 etc.).
Oh well, I'll just talk amou=ngst myself ... zootle-wordle, zootle-wordle, zootle-wordle ...
"Trump-blessed" sounds remarkably like it should be a synonym for "god damned".
Which, coincidentally enough, brings us back to Beavis and Butt-Head.
Elez was granted an interim secret clearance on January 22
I must assume that this was 'encouraged' by the dynamic duo. There have been some real howlers in the USA from inappropriate clearances.
Having a security clearance myself (for the umpteenth time), the screening takes a few weeks in the UK and although I don't know if they scrutinise antisocial media, they do check a lot of other things.
Would be interesting to know just how much of a background check was actually done.
I believe higher level clearances in US can include FBI visits with applicant and relatives etc. plus all the usual financial, criminal background checks and so on.
Funny how the US govt. is trying to reduce it's status and size though, personnel numbers are actually surprisingly low at 38,000 including agents and support staff.
That's less than the Metropolitan Police in the UK although the Met has only about 3/4 the budget.
"a good police force is one that catches more crooks than it employs",
Sir Robert Mark, chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in 1970
https://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/catching-more-crooks-it-employs-0#:~:text=Sir%20Robert%20Mark%2C%20Commissioner%20of,sets%20a%20pretty%20low%20bar.
Elez was granted an interim secret clearance on January 22
Ha!
I had a security clearance before I was 18. So there!
(Entirely true. I got a vacation job at British Aerospace the summer before I went to University. This required a security clearance. It was so long ago that I had to state where my grandparents were born. Anyway, I got the clearance ("permission has been obtained for you to visit certain Government locations ..."), and my 18th birthday was in August. So technically I had an adult security clearance before I was an adult. This also caused some issues with my pay, as I was paid as if I were 18 while I was 17 because the finance people did not want to have to give me a pay rise half way through my employment. I also got bonuses for working a 37 hour week, as it was assumed I would have worked 40 hours if asked, and for turning up every working day in a month. I'll never understand accountancy.)
I had security clearance and signed the Official Secrets Act when I was sixteen as I did my work experience at a government defence research agency. Don't remember the bit about grandparents, although that would have been awkward as my maternal grandfather fought for the wrong side in WWII (he came to the UK as a POW and opted to stay here as he had no family to return to and his home town became part of the Soviet Union).
and signed the Official Secrets Act
You know you don't actually have to sign it to be subject to it? You're automatically under the OSA when you're in the UK (and/or do government work afaik), the only reason you're asked to sign a copy is to remove any remnant of the 'I didn't know' excuse you might try to avail yourself of in court if things go wrong.
I had a security clearance before I was 18. So there!
I had some sort of check when I was 15, but can't remember any of the details. It couldn't have been easy for them as it was some time ago before the internet and I didn't have anything to discover other than pretty bland school records.
I believe the big shove from DOGE is intended to iron out the legalities. There is supposed to be a separation of legislative, executive, and judicial powers. Congress is to make the laws, not execute them or usurp the authority to execute them from the president. One of those executive powers (executive decisions) that Congress is not authorized to make is the staffing of the executive branch agencies, including hiring and sacking federal employees. Congress has, over the past several decades, decided to create "independent" executive branch agencies with directors having employment terms longer than that of a single president and that can only be sacked for cause. So, Congress created executive branch agencies that are not directed by the elected head of the executive branch. Keep in mind that of 2.3 million executive branch personnel, there are exactly 2 who are elected. If neither the president nor Congress (ie. the elected government) is in charge of these agencies, then who is?
Keep in mind that of 2.3 million executive branch personnel, there are exactly 2 who are elected. If neither the president nor Congress (ie. the elected government) is in charge of these agencies, then who is?
If the separation of powers achieves anything at all it must prevent a single (albeit elected) person filling the entire 3 million strong federal workforce with loyalists. So who is in charge? The Executive is but only within the boundaries Congress has decided on, and which the Judiciary will judge on if there's a dispute.
I believe the big shove from DOGE is intended to iron out the legalities.
The legalities don't matter if no one is ever prosecuted for the crimes. And no will ever be held accountable for the damage done.
If I burn down your house, and the gov't refuses to hold me accountable, does it really matter if it's illegal. Your house and all your irreplaceable possessions are gone.
That is what they are doing. They'll call it 'move fast and break things' like this is some software project. But the WHOLE point is to stay ahead of the courts and do as much damage as possible. Assuming they even listen once the court rules against them (see USAID), there has been too much damage to restore the agencies. They are hauling off computers, cancelling building leases, selling off property. Would they be held accountable if the DOGE boys simply destroyed the servers and all the backups? An organization could never recover from that, and DOGE wins.
@HereIAmJH
"Would they be held accountable if the DOGE boys simply destroyed the servers and all the backups? An organization could never recover from that, and DOGE wins."
Based on recent history no. The J6 committiee were pardoned for destroying evidence. USAID did an emergency shred and burn of documents now they are being looked into.
Would be interesting to know just how much of a background check was actually done
According to the court paperwork, the interim clearance was granted on the basis of the 130-page Standard Form 86 background questionnaire throwing up no immediate concerns and his nationality checking out.
Incidentally, one of the many questions on the form is:
In the last seven (7) years have you introduced, removed, or used hardware, software, or media in connection with any information technology system without authorization, when specifically prohibited by rules, procedures, guidelines, or regulations or attempted any of the above?
And another is:
Have you EVER advocated any acts of terrorism or activities designed to overthrow the U.S. Government by force?
Those are the sort of questions designed to get you on "something" even if they can't prove beyond you did anything else to get you arrested or fired. They just need enough to prove you "lied to a federal official", an offence in itself. It's also why you have to declare on your visa application when visiting the US that you are not a terrorist or a spy :-)
Probably none, as there is a notion in the US Government that the Executive Branch is solely in charge of security clearances, and therefore can perform as much (or little) vetting as desired. Of course, this was nominally thought to be a good plan, because why would the American people elect a compromised charlatan to be President? And even if they did, surely the other two co-equal branches of government would step in once they realized what was going on.
So yeah, good times over here.
Here on my side of the Chunnel it takes between one month and 6 month depending on the level... and if you were already on file for having been granted a security clearance in the past. (it's faster then)
And they do scrutinize antisocial media...
Since that's one of the many bullet points that needs to be filled in the clearance request.
At least they dropped the requirement to provide date of birth and birth location of your grandparent and the one removed from there... we just need to provide the parents data.
( I guess they now have an AI that can rebuild the genealogy tree of somebody in a matter of minutes )
"Would be interesting to know just how much of a background check was actually done."
I've gone through it a couple of times and they don't want you to know how they go about it. From questions I've been asked, they do get access to things they likely shouldn't be able to have access to.
With great clearance comes great responsibility, and then you also need a great briefing about how you are supposed to handle such stuff. Most seem to forget the briefing or are insufficiently briefed and howlers such as this result.
But I love it that they didn’t fill in the correct form. Clearly that wasn’t integrated into the Mail system which should at least prompted an “ooh am I doing this right?” from the miscreant.
This is one of the most miniscule infractions of the law that 'doge' has perpetrated so far. But what should you expect when you unleash a bunch of software developers with no knowledge of the law with the brief to restructure complex government agencies? The huge number of reversals of bad decisions and mistakes to date indicate that they're completely out of their depth rather than concertedly malicious (OK, malicious maybe, but, it's patently obvious, not concertedly).
There is an article on the UK's "i" newspaper today claiming that the UK's Secret Intelligence Service (S.I.S. also known as 'MI5' to fans of James Bond) is concerned that with friendship blossoming between Trump and Putin, espionage and counter-espionage regarding Russia could be compromised, and that sources may 'clam up' if they think their information may find its way back to Putin via Trump.
Last time around Trump mentioned something in public that was from a confidential briefing and destroyed an intelligence gathering operation.
We still don't have full transcripts of Trump's meeting with Putin in Helsinki after the stenographers were made to leave the room leaving just the two scumbags and a Russian translator.
So a narcissistic, arrogant moron being manipulated in private by an ex-KGB operative and a translator who no doubt had FSB training. Hopefully the Finns were listening in*.
* They have form for this, the only known recording of Hitler speaking in his normal voice is from a meeting with Marshal Mannerheim that Finnish radio operators eavesdropped on. Hitler discussed quite frankly the problems the Germans were having, which is quite interesting.
two scumbags and a Russian translator.
Putin speaks pretty good English. When a photographer was hired to take his portrait Putin dismissed his 'security team' and chatted about their favourite Beatles songs. At the time Putin said his favourite was 'Yesterday'. He also appealed in English for an International expo to be held in Russia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrXf8Qn9pBI
He speaks German very well, having learned it before his posting to East Germany during the cold war. A translator is still useful for situations where precise language is required, and I'm quite sure any translators working for high level politicians have very specialised training for intelligence purposes. They probably monitor subtle "tells" in speech and body language. Putin is known for his very controlled body language and lack of emotion (grasping the table or chair arms for example to minimise movement) when negotiating, but can turn on a very colloquial form of speech when speaking to the general public.
That looks like a lot like our DGSE (Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure) and DGSI ( Direction Générale de la Sécurité Intérieure)... With obviously the first one dealing with stuff outside of France borders and the other one dealing with stuff inside of France borders.
The security clearance was granted by the government (complete takeover pending) of the guy that was found to have stolen classified and other government documents in the highly secure bathroom, ballroom, storage room by the pool, office, and who knows where else at one or more public facilities. The guy that as POTUS had meetings with Putin that were not documented or had the meeting notes destroyed. The guy that did all this, and more, and did not end up in prison or Russia. I'm surprised they are not handing out "gold" security clearances for only $5,000,000. Or you can get one free with the purchase of a "gold" US citizenship for only $5,000,000 as long as you fit our "special" requirements and immigrate now. Russian oligarchs welcome. Act now, this offer will only be available for a (hopefully) limited time.*
* Actual product may or may not be as advertised.
If it turns out to be true then as least Elez would be in good company.
Lest we forget that Mrs. Clinton commissioned a mail server which was shown to not only be against policy but was used for confidential data.
Again, even though it was against policy the server was decommissioned and the data erased.
"Again, even though it was against policy the server was decommissioned and the data erased."
The data erasure was also an issue since the reason for having government systems is to preserve all communications and not have deals being made "off the books". In the event of a leak, they also like to know what is likely to have leaked and what could have been leaked.
If you haven't had any personal experience since you were a young teenager that changed your opinion and haven't otherwise grown as a person since you were a young teenager. You are a pitiful human being
I believe in growth and rehabilitation. And I'm not an advocate for holding someone's childhood against them as an adult generally speaking.
I'm not sure I support sending a govt database over email in general. That said, what is the database? What does it contain? Was it sent through secure servers, through secure servers to a secure endpoint? The answer do matter because the security will vary.
I've heard some really bad stories in the finance space.
I'm any case there's plenty of facts of the case without digging up someone's childhood and getting overly politically biased. I truly feel sorry for Gen Z and beyond who will see no privacy in practice.
Elez was only 25. He's barely had time to grow and change from being a teenager. I assume he went to university and got a degree considering his "extertise" so has possibly only been out of "school" and the workforce for 3-4 years, ie the real world, not the closed "college bro" world. Holding his views of only a few years ago against him with little to no evidence he's changed and grown as a human being seems eminently reasonable at this stage.
"Elez was only 25. He's barely had time to grow and change from being a teenager."
I'd like to know if he's had any mentored experience in government. The workings of government in the real world were something I've never seen taught. Certainly not the ins and outs of security and how to cover one's backside. There's the age old wisdom of never asking about such and such. When you need to know, you will be told. Asking raises flags. At 25, there hasn't been enough time on the job to learn many of these things if one wasn't already "in the business". None of the junior corps seems to have a background in real world government.
