UNITED STATES: Spy scandal in California

On June 26, the San Jose Mercury News published emails suggesting that the newly created Information Synchronization, Knowledge Management and Intelligence National Guard unit had been spying on members of the peace groups CodePink, Raging Grannies and Gold Star Families for Peace, who were organising a Mother's Day anti-war protest on Capitol Hill. The report alleged that the unit had been set up specifically to "monitor" activist groups. As public outrage followed the allegations, local Democrat Senator Joseph Dunne began an investigation. However, when he attempted to subpoena the relevant emails, he discovered that the computer from which they originated had just had its hard drive wiped clean. Dunne's request to have a computer technician attempt a recovery was refused, because "it was needed" by a federal military investigation, set up on July 6. Dunne has condemned the federal inquiry, arguing that it may make it "impossible" for a non-military body to get access to enough evidence to determine if the unit had spied on protesters.

From Green Left Weekly, July 13, 2005.

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From GLW issue 633