Friday, April 10, 2015

Free to Come and Go as They Please: Senator Uncovers DHS “Hands Off List” of Known Terrorists


After sifting through emails that have been dumped on congress (all except the pertinent ones) Sen. Grassley discovered that the DHS operates a “Hands Off List.” This list is made up of terrorists and terrorist sympathizers that are to be left alone to travel into and around the United States and who can come and go as they please. A couple of stray emails made mention of that fact and it was also discovered that the former Inspector General, that is charged with oversight of the DHS , Charles Edwards, was forced out when he was caught altering reports at the bidding of the DHS. The emails also show that Janet Napolitano was personally involved in creating the list.
Judicial Watch has filed a lawsuit against the DHS after they failed to provide information about the list JW requested through the Freedom of Information Act. (FOIA)
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton was quoted as saying:
“The Obama administration’s unlawful secrecy on this ‘hands off’ list raises concerns about terrorists being allowed into the country. Even when it comes to protecting our borders from known terrorists, the Obama administration places secrecy and politics above national security. Our nation has reached a dangerous pass.”
Sen. Grassley sent a letter to Jeh Johnson requesting information about the “Hands Off List”, specifically he wanted to know about a particular email that read:
“I’m puzzled how someone could be a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation trial, be an associate of [redacted], say that the US is staging car bombings in Iraq and that [it] is ok for men to beat their wives, question who was behind the 9/11 attacks, and be afforded the luxury of a visitor visa and de-watchlisted.”
His records were removed from the DHS in December of 2010 and it is alleged that former DHS head, Janet Napolitano was said to be personally involved in the removal of the subject’s files. In April of 2014, a report by a senate committee found that former IG Charles Edwards either altered or delayed at the request of the DHS.
Will we ever know who or how many are on that list and what they might have done here? 

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