CrimsonPhantom
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RE: DOGE Thread
Democrat Heartbreak As CNN Polling Analyst Harry Enten Reveals What Americans Really Think of DOGE
New Acting USAID Head Considering Criminal Referrals for Misuse of US Foreign Aid Exposed by DOGE
Quote:DOGE revealed a lot of shocking things when it came to waste, fraud, and abuse.
But probably none so far have been as concerning as some of the things revealed about what USAID has done with our money. Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) listed some of the shocking expenditures on the floor of the Senate, including money allegedly ending up going to terrorists. President Donald Trump also listed some of the unbelievable expenditures during his Joint Address to Congress. He pointed it out in a funny way, joking about actual spending on "sedentary migrants" — what the heck is a "sedentary migrant"? — and Lesotho, but making the larger point of how out of kilter this all was.
Now, there's news that actions may have consequences, as our sister site, Townhall, is reporting. So, if you wondered if anyone was going to be held to account on any of this, that may be on the way.
Pete Marocco, deputy administrator-designate at USAID, met with the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday in a closed-door meeting. He told them he was considering making criminal referrals to the DOJ regarding USAID actions being exposed by DOGE. Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) confirmed that to the Daily Mail, "They intend to refer USAID officials to DOJ," he shared, but they obviously weren't going to go into the specifics yet.
Self noted that Marocco and USAID would not share their plans for criminal recommendations unless they had a rock solid 'paper trail.'
'You're going to have to have a paper trail to to prove that,' Self added. 'And I doubt that they would refer anyone without a very strong paper trail.'
Another source also confirmed it to the Daily Mail.
'Marocco briefed the full House Foreign Affairs Committee, Democrats and Republicans, that the waste, fraud, and abuse at USAID was more severe than initially presumed,' the source shared.
'He told lawmakers that multiple referrals to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution were being considered,' they continued.
'The conduct in question arose because of USAID’s decentralized accountability system that often left grantees on the ground using American tax dollars in ways that were both inappropriate and potentially illegal,' the source disclosed.
Fox reported that the "internal review is in its early stages" but that Marocco's team believes they've uncovered "a pattern of illegal activity at the agency."
They have to lay out all the evidence to build a case, but given everything we've seen, there are all kinds of questions they could be pursuing. If that happens, then grab the popcorn and watch the meltdowns on the left. I don't think the intensity of the freak-outs will be able to be measured with existing technology.
DOGE is finding billions of dollars in wasteful spending, and the Democrats are losing their minds as they realize their gravy train and woke projects are coming to an end.
NEW: Federal Judge Declines to Block DOGE from Access to Treasury Systems
Quote:A federal judge on Friday refused to block DOGE workers from accessing the Treasury systems.
US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, a Clinton appointee, said the plaintiffs did not show there was an immediate risk to sensitive information being shared publicly.
“Plaintiffs’ concerns are understandable and no doubt widely shared. However, on the present record, Plaintiffs have not cleared the “high standard” of showing a likelihood of an irreparable injury that is “beyond remediation,” which is a prerequisite to the issuance of a preliminary injunction in this Circuit,” Judge Kollar-Kotelly wrote in a 44-page opinion.
“Merely asserting that the Treasury DOGE Team’s operations increase the risk of a catastrophic data breach or public disclosure of sensitive information … is not sufficient to support a preliminary injunction,” the judge wrote, according to AP.
The judge did say she is open to blocking DOGE in the future if the plaintiffs show evidence that a small team of workers are putting sensitive information at risk.
“If Plaintiffs could show that Defendants imminently planned to make their private information public or to share that information with individuals outside the federal government with no obligation to maintain its confidentiality, the Court would not hesitate to find a likelihood of irreparable harm. But on the present record, Plaintiffs have not shown that Defendants have such a plan. If circumstances change, Plaintiffs are free to return to federal court to seek any proper emergency remedy,” the judge wrote.
Judge Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling on Friday has little impact because a separate judge in New York granted an injunction blocking DOGE from accessing Treasury systems.
The Associated Press reported:
A federal judge in Washington refused Friday to block employees of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Treasury systems containing sensitive personal data for millions of Americans.
She acknowledged, however, privacy concerns about their work. DOGE is still limited by a different court order in New York.
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