New Yorkers Show Solidarity for Reality Winner, NSA Contractor Charged Under Espionage Act
New York, NY — The indictment of NSA contractor Reality Leigh Winner may be the opening salvo in the Trump Administration’s self-described war on leaks. Reality is facing a serious charge under the Espionage Act for allegedly sharing an NSA report on Russian attempts to compromise the 2016 US Presidential election. Concerned New Yorkers and political activists will show […]
US Withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement is Yet Another Gift to Special Interests at the Expense of People and the Planet
Washington, DC — Global Witness has issued the following statement in response to reports that President Donald Trump intends to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement: “If Donald Trump withdraws the US from the Paris Climate Agreement as reports suggest, he will give yet another gift to special interests at the expense of the public […]
Indigenous Activists will Confront Imperial Metals at Annual General Meeting
Vancouver, BC — Indigenous delegates and tribal allies will be confronting Imperial Metals at their Annual General Meeting at the Executive Plaza Hotel Coquitlam, 405 North Road, Coquitlam, British Columbia at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2017. “It is clear that there are major human rights and Indigenous rights violations happening within Canada and within […]
Chelsea Manning Releases First Portrait of Herself on Social Media
Today, Chelsea Manning released her first full portrait image on social media. The posts on Twitter and Instagram follow her release from military prison yesterday. Chelsea’s photo can be found here On Twitter: https://twitter.com/xychelsea/status/865250670831702016 Okay, so here I am everyone!! =P https://t.co/NuyZlcWfd9#HelloWorld pic.twitter.com/gKsMFTYukO — Chelsea Manning (@xychelsea) May 18, 2017 On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BUPbwX0htrw/ Okay, so here I am […]
Chelsea Manning, Legal Team Confirm Chelsea’s Safe Release from Military Prison
Be sure to follow Chelsea Manning via her website: luminairity.com Today, Chelsea Manning was safely released from U.S. military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Said Chelsea Manning: “After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived. I am looking forward to so much! Whatever is ahead of me, is far more important than the past. […]
The FBI is Investigating Donald Trump’s Call for Russian Hacking and Espionage
President Trump’s May 9, 2017 letter firing now-former FBI Director James Comey in part reads, “I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation[.]” However, a recent court filing by the Department of Justice on behalf of the FBI in an ongoing FOIA lawsuit plainly indicates the FBI […]
Statement from Chelsea Manning and Legal Team on Her Upcoming Release from Prison
Next week, Chelsea Manning will be released from U.S. military prison after serving a seven-year sentence for disclosing classified information that raised public awareness regarding the impact of war on innocent civilians. Manning, a transgender woman, was serving an unprecedented 35-year sentence for whistleblowing and was forced to serve her sentence in an all-male prison. […]
Lawyer Representing Investors Told to Quit ‘Fucking with Mr. Trump’
Newly released documents reveal that the FBI investigated an extortion threat related to a menacing phone call made to bankruptcy attorney Kristopher Hansen on February 18, 2009, wherein a Trump associate using the name “Carmine” threatened Hansen’s wife and children. Redactions within FBI documents initially indicated that the bureau’s extortion investigation was ongoing as of […]
Will Peter King’s Latent Misogyny Lead Him to Dodge LI Women’s Town Hall?
Massapequa Park, NY — Constituents from New York’s 2nd congressional district hand delivered an invitation to Rep. Peter King (NY-02) to participate in a Women’s Town Hall on May 7 at the Dominican Village in Amityville. The Women’s Town Hall is being organized by New York’s 2nd District Democrats, the National Organization for Women – NY, and […]
New Leaks Show Shell Oil Executives at the Center of a Scheme to Steal $1.1 Billion from Nigeria’s People
Oil giants Shell and Eni knowingly took part in a vast bribery scheme for one of Africa’s most valuable oil blocks which deprived Nigeria and its people of $1.1billion, an exposé by Global Witness and Finance Uncovered reveals. New leaked internal emails seen by Global Witness and Finance Uncovered show that Shell’s most senior decision-makers […]
Peter King Skips Town Hall for Closed Door Meeting, Activists Release Transcript
Massapequa Park, NY – Members of new group, New York’s 2nd District Democrats (NY02 Dems) have been requesting meetings with Rep. Pete King. He has refused to schedule constituent meetings or hold a Town Hall. He has also been deleting dissenting comments from his Facebook page, and blocking constituents. On Friday, February 3, the group joined a […]
A New Vision for Youth Justice: Imagining a World Without Youth Prisons
On any given day 50,000 youth are incarcerated in America’s juvenile justice system. Seemingly harmless names like “training schools” and “academies” are used to obfuscate an archipelago of youth prison environments sprawled across the US where minors are subjected to restraints, brutal violence, and the use of solitary confinement. A group called the Youth First […]
Oceti Sakowin Tribal Members Sue Trump Administration to Block Dakota Access Pipeline
Washington, DC — Civil liberties group RevolutionTruth along with lead counsel Bruce Afran filed an emergency lawsuit motion this evening in US District Court on behalf of nearly a dozen plaintiffs from several Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) tribes. The plaintiffs in Jumping Eagle v. Trump demand an immediate halt to Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) construction beneath Lake […]
Leaked Trump Executive Order Easing Conflict Mineral Regulations a ‘Gift to Warlords & Corrupt Businesses’
Washington, DC — In response to reports that the President Trump is planning to issue an executive order targeting the US conflict minerals provision, also known as Section 1502 of Dodd-Frank, Carly Oboth Policy Adviser at Global Witness said: “Any executive action suspending the US conflict minerals rule would be a gift to predatory armed groups […]
Congress Votes for Corruption by Overturning Historic Transparency Law in Gift to Big Oil
Washington, DC — Today’s decision by the Republican-led U.S. Senate to overturn a rule designed to stop oil companies striking corrupt deals with foreign governments is a grave threat to U.S. national security and an astonishing gift to big oil, said Global Witness. The news comes just two days after Rex Tillerson, a longstanding opponent of […]
Hundreds Will Protest Peter King Friday Over Penning of Controversial Muslim Ban
Massapequa Park, NY – Hundreds of Long Island residents and local organizations will come together on Friday, February 3, 2017 for a demonstration outside the office of Congressman Peter King showing unity against President Donald Trump’s Executive Order banning refugees indefinitely from Syria and temporarily from 6 other Muslim majority countries. Protestors will march in front of Peter […]
Republican Vote to Eliminate Landmark Transparency Law Jeopardizes National Security
Washington, DC — Today’s vote by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to undo a rule designed to stop corruption in the oil industry poses a grave threat to U.S. national security, said Global Witness today. The oil industry is the most corrupt on the planet, according to the OECD. Yet today the House of Representatives voted […]
8 Federal Agencies Sued for Records on Trump Attorney General Pick, Jeff Sessions
WASHINGTON, DC — Multiple federal agencies are in violation of the Freedom of Information Act. Investigative journalist Jason Leopold and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) PhD candidate/Harvard Klein Center for Internet & Society research affiliate, Ryan Shapiro, filed a lawsuit this morning against the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of State (DOS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department […]
Trump uses First Days to Roll Back Oil Sector Regulations, Green Light Keystone XL & Dakota Access Pipelines
Washington, DC — The past 24 hours have seen an unprecedented number of gifts to Exxon and the oil industry, said Global Witness today. Yesterday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved former CEO of Exxon, Rex Tillerson, to lead the State Department. Today, it is expected that Republicans in the House of Representatives will introduce […]
Global Witness Responds to U.S. Senate Committee Vote on Rex Tillerson
Washington, DC — Today, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations voted in favor of making Rex Tillerson, former CEO of ExxonMobil, the most powerful diplomat in the U.S. Global Witness raised serious concerns that this appointment would pose a grave threat to both US and global security. On Mr. Tillerson’s watch, ExxonMobil was at the forefront of […]
President Obama Grants Commutation of Sentence to Chelsea Manning
WASHINGTON, DC — The Obama administration announced today the commutation of Chelsea Manning’s sentence for disclosing classified information that raised public awareness regarding the impact of war on innocent civilians. Manning will reportedly be freed in May 2017. “I’m relieved and thankful that the president is doing the right thing and commuting Chelsea Manning’s sentence,” said Chase Strangio, a staff attorney […]
Thousands Online Want to Give Chelsea Manning a Hug
Following reports that Chelsea Manning is on President Obama’s “short list” for a possible commutation, the Internet has exploded with support for the imprisoned transgender transparency advocate. Over the weekend, thousands of people started taking part in a spontaneous #HugsForChelsea campaign, posting photos of themselves with their arms outstretched as if waiting to give Chelsea Manning a hug, calling […]
Chelsea Manning Reportedly on President Obama’s ‘Short List’ for Commutation
NBC News is reporting that Chelsea Manning, who has served 7 years of a 35 year sentence, is on President Obama’s “short list” for commutation. Chelsea Manning’s attorney at the ACLU, Chase Strangio, said: “The Obama administration has done many commendable things to protect the rights of LGBTQ people, but in the case of Chelsea Manning they […]
CIA, FBI, DHS and ODNI Sued for Records on Russian Interference in 2016 Election
WASHINGTON, DC — The CIA, FBI, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) are in violation of the Freedom of Information Act. Investigative journalist Jason Leopold and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) PhD candidate/Harvard Klein Center for Internet & Society research affiliate, Ryan Shapiro, filed a lawsuit yesterday against […]