The Justice Department, under Attorney General Ashley Moody, has disbanded a task force focused on combating secret influence campaigns by foreign adversaries like China and Russia. The order also lessens penalties for violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, despite warnings from US intelligence agencies about the growing threat of foreign disinformation.
The order also curbs prosecutions of Americans who improperly lobby for foreign nations. President Trump says Republicans were unfairly targeted in the past.ordered a halt to a years-old federal law enforcement effort to combat secret influence campaigns by China, Russia and other adversaries that try to curry favor and sow chaos in American politics.
The order said the personnel working on those projects will be reassigned to target drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations. Forfeiture cases already underway will continue to be pursued, officials said. “It’s astounding,” said Frank Figliuzzi, former head of FBI counterintelligence and an NBC News contributor. “It’s now a free for all for foreign intel services seeking influence.”
“The Chinese government is engaged in a broad, diverse campaign of theft and malign influence, and it can execute that campaign with authoritarian efficiency,”Russia-backed media funneled $10 million The Justice Department has prosecuted both Democrats and Republicans under the foreign lobbying law. , who was convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison — facing charges of corruptly acting on behalf of organizations in Turkey, Mexico and Egypt and failing to register as a foreign agent.
FOREIGN INFLUENCE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ATTORNEY GENERAL CHINA RUSSIA DISINFORMATION FOREIGN AGENTS REGISTRATION ACT
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New Attorney General Bondi Ends Efforts to Combat Foreign Influence CampaignsAttorney General Pam Bondi issued a directive on her first day in office halting a federal law enforcement effort to combat foreign influence campaigns by China, Russia and other adversaries. The order disbands the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force and pares back penalties for violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, despite warnings by U.S. intelligence agencies about the growing threat of foreign disinformation.
Read more »
Trump Appoints Experienced Attorney as Interim U.S. Attorney for MassachusettsLeah Belaire Foley, an attorney with nearly two decades of experience in Massachusetts, has been appointed as the interim U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts by acting U.S. Attorney General James McHenry.
Read more »
ExxonMobil Sues California Attorney General Over Plastic Recycling ClaimsExxonMobil has filed a federal defamation lawsuit against California Attorney General Rob Bonta and several environmental groups, claiming they conspired to spread false information about the company's plastic recycling technology. The lawsuit alleges that Bonta and the environmental groups made defamatory statements accusing ExxonMobil of deceiving the public about the effectiveness of its recycling processes.
Read more »
California Attorney General Warns Against Price Gouging Amid WildfiresAs wildfires ravage Los Angeles County, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a warning against price gouging, reminding residents that it is illegal during a state of emergency. Bonta emphasized the protection offered by California's price gouging law, which limits price increases on essential goods and services during emergencies.
Read more »
Ohio Attorney General Faces Supreme Court Over Public Records RequestThe Ohio Supreme Court heard arguments for the third time in a case involving Attorney General Dave Yost's refusal to comply with a public records request. The Center for Media and Democracy requested documents related to the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) and its affiliated organizations. Yost's office claimed the records were exempt, sparking litigation that led to a lower court ordering Yost to answer written questions and undergo a deposition. The Attorney General's office argues that the requests are overly broad and could set a dangerous precedent for future litigation.
Read more »
Ohio Supreme Court Weighs Public Records Case Against Attorney GeneralThe Ohio Supreme Court heard arguments in a case involving Attorney General Dave Yost and the Center for Media and Democracy, which is seeking records related to Yost's ties with the Republican Attorney Generals Association. The court is considering whether Yost must comply with a magistrate's order to provide records and be deposed.
Read more »