Americans’ personal data shared with CIA, IRS, others in security probe

WASHINGTON — U.S. agencies collected and shared the personal information of thousands of Americans in an attempt to root out untrustworthy federal workers that ended up scrutinizing people who had no direct ties to the U.S. government and simply had purchased certain books.

Federal officials gathered the information from the customer records of two men who were under criminal investigation for purportedly teaching people how to pass lie detector tests. The officials then distributed a list of 4,904 people – along with many of their Social Security numbers, addresses and professions – to nearly 30 federal agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, the CIA, the National Security Agency and the Food and Drug Administration. Although the polygraph-beating techniques are unproven, authorities hoped to find government employees or applicants who might have tried to use them to lie during the tests required for security clearances. Officials with multiple agencies confirmed that they’d checked the names in their databases and planned to retain the list in case any of those named take polygraphs for federal jobs or criminal investigations.

It turned out, however, that many people on the list worked outside the federal government and lived across the country. Among the people whose personal details were collected were nurses, firefighters, police officers and private attorneys, McClatchy learned. Also included: a psychologist, a cancer researcher and employees of Rite Aid, Paramount Pictures, the American Red Cross and Georgetown University.

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/11/14/208438/americans-personal-data-shared.html#storylink=cpy

WHITE HOUSE PUNTS ON WHETHER CIA EMPLOYEES ARE EXPERIENCING RETALIATION FOR TALKING ABOUT BENGHAZI

The White House on Thursday deferred questions about whether the CIA is cracking down on employees in order to prevent leaks about last year’s terror attacks in Benghazi.

White House press secretary Jay Carney punted on whether CIA employees are experience retaliation for discussing the Benghazi attacks. (Getty Images)

CNN reported last week that the CIA has been regularly polygraphing employees to find out if they were talking to Congress about the Sept. 11, 2011 assault that killed four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

Fox News’ Ed Henry asked whether Carney could assure Americans that was not the case.

“I don’t have any information on the CIA, individuals, or operations around the world,” Carney responded.

Clearly prepared for the question, Carney then read a statement previously released by the CIA in response to CNN’s report, claiming to have worked closely with Congress and being unaware of any intimidation.

“The CIA has worked closely with oversight committees to provide them with an extraordinary amount of information related to the event on U.S. facilities in Benghazi,” Carney said.

CONTINUED: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/08/08/white-house-punts-on-whether-cia-employees-are-experiencing-retaliation-for-talking-about-benghazi/

NEW BENGHAZI DETAILS REVEALED IN BOMBSHELL CNN REPORT

NEW BENGHAZI DETAILS REVEALED IN BOMBSHELL CNN REPORT: ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ EFFORT UNDERWAY TO KEEP SECRETS FROM LEAKING

The CIA is polygraphing its operatives on a regular basis in an “unprecedented” effort to prevent Benghazi secrets from leaking out, CNN’s Drew Griffin is reporting, citing unnamed inside sources.

“Since January, some CIA operatives involved in the agency’s missions in Libya, have been subjected to frequent, even monthly polygraph examinations, according to a source with deep inside knowledge of the agency’s workings,” the bombshell report reveals. “The goal of the questioning, according to sources, is to find out if anyone is talking to the media or Congress.”

More from CNN:

It is being described as pure intimidation, with the threat that any unauthorized CIA employee who leaks information could face the end of his or her career.

In exclusive communications obtained by CNN, one insider writes, “You don’t jeopardize yourself, you jeopardize your family as well.”

Another says, “You have no idea the amount of pressure being brought to bear on anyone with knowledge of this operation.”

The CIA responded to CNN’s report in a statement, claiming it “enabled all officers involved in Benghazi the opportunity to meet with Congress,” according to Jake Tapper.

It has also been revealed that as many 35 Americans were in Benghazi on the night of the deadly terror attack, CNN reports, citing anonymous inside sources. As many as seven were wounded and 21 Americans were reportedly working in the building known as the CIA annex.

CONTINUED:  http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/08/01/shock-cnn-report-cia-is-polygraphing-operatives-regularly-in-unprecedented-effort-to-keep-benghazi-secrets/

The Benghazi-Syria Connection

September 11, 2012, 8:30 PM: U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. All is quiet, Ambassador Chris Stevens has recently finished a meeting with the Turkish consul general.

9:40 – 9:42 PM: Alarms sound, indicating something is wrong. The compound is under attack. A senior State Department security officer at the consulate calls for assistance from the CIA base located less than 1 mile away.

9:59 PM: An unarmed drone is directed to fly over the consulate.

10:20 PM: First officers from CIA’s Global Response Staff arrive at the consulate to assist against attackers.

10:32 PM: National Command Center at the Pentagon notifies the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the attack. Secretary Panetta and General Dempsey are also informed of the situation.

11:00 PM: Panetta and Dempsey meet with President Obama for a previously scheduled meeting and discuss the attack.

CONTINUED:  http://www.redstate.com/2012/11/26/benghazi-syria-connection/