(28.09.2023)
Archiv: US Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Who could Newsom pick to replace Feinstein? Oprah Winfrey might make sense
There has been talk that former talk show host and current magazine and book publisher Oprah Winfrey might be of interest. Winfrey, though, would have to take more than a year away from her many lucrative enterprises if she did this.
BREAKING: Dianne Feinstein, a centrist Democrat who served as California’s senator since 1992, has died.
The passionate advocate for liberal priorities who broke gender barriers was the oldest member of Congress. She was 90.
Stop CSAM Act: Neues Gesetz in den USA könnte Verschlüsselung schwächen
Hinzu kommt laut der Bürgerrechtsorganisation auch ein neuer zivilrechtlicher Anspruch, der Privatklagen gegen Internetunternehmen und App-Stores wegen der „Förderung oder Erleichterung“ der Ausbeutung von Kindern, des „Hostings oder Speicherns von Kinderpornografie“ oder des „Zugänglichmachens von Kinderpornografie für jedermann“ ermöglichen soll. Dies geschehe alles auf der Grundlage eines sehr niedrigen Fahrlässigkeitsstandards, so die EFF.
Außerdem wird ein Benachrichtigungs- und Löschsystem geschaffen, das von einem neu geschaffenen Ausschuss für den Schutz von Kindern im Internet beaufsichtigt wird und von den Anbietern verlangt, Inhalte auf Anfrage zu entfernen oder zu deaktivieren, noch bevor eine administrative oder gerichtliche Entscheidung vorliegt, dass es sich bei den Inhalten tatsächlich um CSAM handelt.
Damit geht das geplante Gesetz lange nicht so weit wie die europäische Chatkontrolle oder der britische Online Safety Act, welche derzeit von den Anbietern verlangen, die Kommunikationsinhalte und gespeicherte Dateien vor der Verschlüsselung zu durchsuchen. Dennoch sieht die EFF in den Formulierungen des Gesetzes große Fallstricke:
Senator Durbin’s ‘STOP CSAM Act’ Has Some Good Ideas… Mixed In With Some Very Bad Ideas That Will Do More Harm Than Good
(18.04.2023)
It’s “protect the children” season in Congress with the return of KOSA and EARN IT, two terrible bills that attack the internet, and rely on people’s ignorance of how things actually work to pretend they’re making the internet safer, when they’re not. Added to this is Senator Dick Durbin’s STOP CSAM Act, which he’s been touting since February, but only now has officially put out a press release announcing the bill (though, he hasn’t released the actual language of the bill, because that would actually be helpful to people analyzing it). (…)
Notice what’s not talked about? It’s not mentioned how much law enforcement has done to actually track down, arrest, and prosecute the perpetrators. That’s the stat that matters. But it’s missing.
The STOP CSAM Act Would Put Security and Free Speech at Risk
(21.04.2023)
– It makes it a crime for providers to “knowingly host or store” CSAM or “knowingly promote or facilitate” the sexual exploitation of children, including the creation of CSAM, on their platforms.
– It creates a new civil claim and corresponding Section 230 carveout to encourage private lawsuits against internet companies and app stores for the “promotion or facilitation” of child exploitation, the “hosting or storing of child pornography,” or for “making child pornography available to any person”—all based on the very low standard of negligence.
– It requires providers to remove (in addition to reporting and preserving) “apparent” CSAM when they obtain actual knowledge of the content on their platforms.
– It creates a notice-and-takedown system overseen by a newly created Child Online Protection Board, requiring providers to remove or disable content upon request even before an administrative or judicial determination that the content is in fact CSAM.
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Because the law already prohibits the distribution of CSAM, the bill’s broad terms could be interpreted as reaching more passive conduct like merely providing an encrypted app.
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Not every platform will have the resources to fight these threats in court, especially newcomers that compete with entrenched giants like Meta and Google.
Durbin Introduces Stop CSAM Act to Crack Down on the Proliferation of Child Sex Abuse Material Online
(19.04.2023)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced the Strengthening Transparency and Obligation to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment Act of 2023 (STOP CSAM Act), legislation to crack down on the proliferation of child sex abuse material online. To combat this horrific crime, the STOP CSAM Act supports victims and increases accountability and transparency for online platforms.
Feinstein, Under Pressure to Resign, Asks to Step Down From Judiciary Panel
“So I’ve asked Leader Schumer to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until I’m able to resume my committee work.”
In a statement, a spokesman for Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, said that Mr. Schumer would make that request of the Senate next week.
U.S. Senate panel advances bill to rein in OPEC+ over oil output cut
(19.10.2022)
The legislation could be debated by lawmakers after the Nov. 8 midterm elections.
Power struggle sparks tensions among Senate Democrats
Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), who was recently reelected as Democratic whip for the next Congress, immediately threw his hat into the ring to succeed her. Durbin is third in seniority among Democrats on the committee behind Feinstein and Sen. Patrick Leahy (Vt.), who previously chaired the committee and is the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee.
But the move drew grumblings because Durbin already holds the No. 2 position in the caucus and Democrats’ top spot on the Appropriations subcommittee for defense spending, an influential post that gives him sway over the Pentagon’s $700 billion budget.
Feinstein departure from top post sets stage for Judiciary fight
Other groups on the left were thinking about joining the call for Feinstein to step down but held off after Schumer’s office put out word that the Democratic leader was working on the situation, according to sources familiar with the haggling over Feinstein’s future.
Feinstein to step aside as top Democrat on Senate Judiciary Committee
California Sen. Dianne Feinstein announced on Monday that she would step down from the top Democratic spot on the Senate Judiciary Committee next year, following sharp criticism from liberal activists over her handling of the hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
Feinstein, 87, said she would „increase“ her „attention“ on the wildfire and drought crisis in California …
GOP clears key hurdle on Barrett‘s Supreme Court nomination, setting up Monday confirmation
Senators voted 51-48 to begin winding down debate on Barrett’s nomination. GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) voted with Democrats against moving forward.
A final vote to confirm Barrett to the Supreme Court is expected to take place by Monday evening, roughly a month after President Trump announced his intention to nominate her to succeed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Democrats, trying everything, fail to derail Amy Coney Barrett confirmation
But Barrett is hurtling toward confirmation.
And there’s nothing Democrats can do about it.
Barrett meets with senators ahead of committee vote on Supreme Court nomination
Senate Judiciary Committee to vote on Barrett‘s nomination Thursday
US-Senat stimmt über Richterkandidatin ab
Der Justizausschuss des US-Senats stimmt morgen über die konservative Juristin Amy Coney Barrett als Kandidatin für das Oberste Gericht ab. Ihre endgültige Bestätigung durch den Senat soll am Montag erfolgen.
Democrats seem unlikely to move against Feinstein
Any decision to remove Feinstein from serving as chairwoman or ranking minority member in the 117th Congress, which convenes in January, would have to be approved by a vote of the entire Senate Democratic Caucus. And the support for such a move does not appear to be there.
Gewissermaßen noch Azubi
Amy Coney-Barrett ist seit drei Jahren Richterin. Drei. 3.
5 takeaways from Monday‘s Senate hearing on Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett
The first day of confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump‘s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett featured plenty of fiery speeches — many of them aimed at next month‘s presidential election rather than the nominee herself.
WATCH LIVE: Judge Amy Coney Barrett Supreme Court confirmation hearings – Day 1
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Nachfolge im Supreme Court: Barrett stellt sich dem Senat
Am ersten Tag geht es im Justizausschuss zunächst um die Vorstellung der konservativen Juristin Amy Coney Barrett und einleitende Stellungnahmen. Die Anhörung geht am Dienstag mit der Befragung der Kandidatin weiter.
Amy Coney Barrett‘s confirmation hearing to begin
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear opening statements regarding Judge Amy Coney Barrett‘s nomination to the Supreme Court beginning Monday morning, kicking off several days of testimony by President Trump‘s pick to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Nancy Cordes has the latest.
Former CIA Director John Brennan on ethics of intelligence, challenges to democracy
(07.10.2020)
– Recent declassifications by DNI John Ratcliffe: „I thought it was a outrageous, appalling and blatant act of politicization that he released, very selectively, some intelligence that was provided then to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is right now engaged in, I think, a very partisan effort to try to debunk the necessary investigative efforts of the FBI that looked into Russian interference in the 2016 election.“
Trump‘s spy chief declassified unverified Russian intelligence despite concerns raised by CIA and NSA
(30.09.2020)
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe declassified unverified Russian intelligence despite concerns being raised by the CIA and National Security Agency, according to people briefed on the matter.
Career officials in the intelligence agencies were concerned about declassifying the information because it was unverified and they believed it could reveal sources and methods. Ratcliffe overrode those concerns and sent the document to Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham on Tuesday, the people sa
Comey knocks Barr‘s attacks on the Russia probe: ‚I have no idea what on Earth he is talking about‘
(30.09.2020)
Graham pointed to the documents declassified Tuesday by Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe — which summarized unverified Russian intelligence that Clinton‘s 2016 presidential campaign was trying to „stir up a scandal“ by tying Trump to Russia — arguing they showed the FBI‘s double standard in not investigating Clinton and Russia.
One Republicans senator even asked Comey about the Democratic allegations he had swung the 2016 election to Trump by releasing information about the FBI‘s investigation into Clinton‘s emails.
Amy Coney Barrett confirmation hearing to begin Oct. 12 as Senate ramps up COVID precautions
Republicans are hopeful that they can get Barrett confirmed to the high court before Election Day.
Talked to Senator Lee earlier today and wished him a speedy recovery. Look forward to welcoming him back to the @senjudiciary to proceed with the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barret on October 12.
Trotz infizierter Senatoren: Barretts Ernennung soll planmäßig stattfinden
Trotz der Corona-Infektion zweier beteiligter Senatoren soll die Nachbesetzung des freien Postens am Obersten Gericht der USA planmäßig stattfinden. Die Kandidatin Amy Coney Barrett solle wie angekündigt vom 12. Oktober an angehört werden, so der Vorsitzende des Justizausschusses, Lindsey Graham. Die Senatoren könnten daran nach Wunsch auch per Video teilnehmen.
2 GOP senators test positive for COVID-19 after Trump; Democrats say it‘s ‚premature‘ to move forward with Barrett confirmation hearings
Despite the concerns, Senate Republican leaders say they want to move ahead with confirmation hearings for Barrett, which are slated to begin Oct. 12. Both Lee and Tillis are members of the 22-member Senate Judiciary Committee that will hold the hearings and ultimately decide whether his confirmation will move forward for a vote in the full Senate.
Positive Tests for Senators Raise Questions About Timing of Barrett Hearings
Two Republican senators on the pivotal Judiciary Committee have tested positive for the coronavirus after attending White House events last week announcing Mr. Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, throwing the future of her Supreme Court confirmation hearings into question.
Trump’s Diagnosis Imperils Quick Supreme Court Confirmation Timeline
But by Friday evening, with the White House and Congress in turmoil and two Republican members of the Judiciary Committee, Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, among those announcing they had tested positive for the virus, it was clear that the challenge had grown steeper.
Top Republicans insisted they would move ahead at an uncommonly swift pace to hold hearings on Judge Barrett’s nomination by Oct. 12, send her nomination to the full Senate by Oct. 22 and confirm her as soon as Oct. 26, eight days before Election Day — even if it meant breaking Senate norms and considering a lifetime judicial nomination by videoconference.
Graham to release report on his probe into Russia investigation before election
Graham‘s timeline, which was first reported by The Hill last week, would have him releasing a report on the committee‘s probe only weeks before the November election, where Trump is set to face off against former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee.
In addition to the Senate panel examining Crossfire Hurricane, the name for the FBI investigation into Russia‘s 2016 election meddling and the Trump campaign, Graham has said that his investigation will also look at the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, or FISA court.
Senate revives surveillance brawl
The Senate is set to revive a fight over a shadowy surveillance court, bringing to a head a months-long stalemate that resulted in the lapse of three intelligence programs.
The looming debate, which will pit some of President Trump’s biggest allies against one another, comes on the heels of growing questions about the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court after the Justice Department inspector general found widespread errors as part of an interim report on warrant applications.
Reform or Expire
Although the law has become synonymous with the NSA’s collection of call records, it actually has a much wider scope. In addition to authorizing ongoing collection of telephone records, Section 215’s “business records” authority allows the government to obtain a secret order from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) requiring third parties to hand over any records or other “tangible thing” if deemed “relevant” to an international terrorism, counterespionage, or foreign intelligence investigation.