(Feb. 23, 2017 2:20 p.m.) — The recent swearing in of Scott Pruitt as the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Friday came days before a court ordered release of more than 7,500 pages of communications between Pruitt and related fossil fuel industry interests. Also Friday, Pruitt submitted his resignation as attorney general to Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin.
The controversy surrounding Pruitt’s close ties and collaboration with the gas and oil industry while he was the Attorney General for the State of Oklahoma appears not to be receding and continues to follow him as he leaves the OAG and assumes his new post as head of the EPA.
Now that the records have been released, news outlets are combing through the records to search for smoking-gun style evidence to show Pruitt’s inappropriate relationship with an industry he will now be responsible for regulating.
The Intercept has reported they have found the communications between Pruitt and the gas and oil industry pertained to “at least one rule affecting utility rates.”
Pruitt while the State of Oklahoma Attorney General at the time, stonewalled for years the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) multiple public records requests.
The CMD then filed a lawsuit against the OAG’s office seeking to compel Pruitt to produce the related documents.
According to information posted on the ACLU of Oklahoma’s website:
The CMD Filed seven records requests with Pruitt’s office in 2015 and 2016, and another two requests last month, seeking communications with Koch Industries and other coal, oil and gas corporations, as well as the corporate-funded Republican Attorney General’s Association (RAGA). Pruitt has yet to turn over a single document, despite acknowledging in August 2016 that his office has 3,000 emails and other documents relevant to CMD’s first request in January 2015.
According to the CMD, documents released Tuesday night revealed:
The oil and gas lobby group American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) coordinated opposition in 2013 to both the Renewable Fuel Standard Program and ozone limits with Pruitt’s office. While AFPM was making its own case against the RFS with the American Petroleum Institute, it provided Pruitt with a template language for an Oklahoma petition, noting “this argument is more credible coming from a State.” Later that year, Pruitt did file opposition to both the RFS and ozone limits.
In a groundbreaking New York Times Pulitzer winning series in 2014, Eric Lipton exposed the close relationship between Devon Energy and Scott Pruitt, and highlighted examples where Devon Energy drafted letters that were sent by Pruitt under his own name. These new emails reveal more of the same close relationship with Devon Energy. In one email, Devon Energy helped draft language that was later sent by Pruitt to the EPA about the limiting of methane from oil and gas fracking.
In 2013, Devon Energy organized a meeting between Scott Pruitt, Leonard Leo of the Federalist Society and coal industry lawyer Paul Seby to plan the creation of a “clearinghouse” that would “assist AGs in addressing federalism issues.” Melissa Houston, then Pruitt’s chief of staff emailed Devon Energy saying “this will be an amazing resource for the AGs and for industry.”
In addition, Nick Surgey, the research director at the Center for Media and Democracy in a statement said, “The newly released emails reveal a close and friendly relationship between Scott Pruitt’s office and the fossil fuel industry, with frequent meetings, calls, dinners and other events. And our work doesn’t stop here – we will keep fighting until all of the public records involving Pruitt’s dealings with energy corporations are released – both those for which his office is now asserting some sort of privilege against public disclosure and the documents relevant to our eight other Open Records Act requests.”
Without batting an eye, the West Virginia Coal Association has been unabashed at scrutinizing the Obama Administrations regulations, while also praising Pruitt’s ascension to EPA head.
West Virginia Coal Association tweet dated Feb. 16, 2017:
West Virginia Coal Association tweet dated Feb. 18, 2017:
The CMD has posted many of the released documents online, many of which are emails and other communications revealing a hidden side of the OAG’s Office.
A number of documents were withheld from this week’s release, others were redacted as well. These documents have been submitted to Judge Aletia Haynes Timmons handling the case styled Center for Media and Democracy, a Wisconsin corporation, Plaintiff, v. Scott Pruitt, in his official capacity as Attorney General of the State of Oklahoma, Defendant.
District Court of Oklahoma County, State of Oklahoma, Case No. CV-17-223.
Attorneys in the case:
Attorneys for Plaintiff, Center for Media and Democracy
Robert D. Nelon, OBA #6610
Black Lawrence, OBA #30620
Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C.
100 North Broadway, Suite 2900
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-8865
Telephone: (405) 553-2828
Facsimile: (405) 553-2855
and
Brady R. Henderson, OBA #21212
ACLU of Oklahoma Foundation
3000 Paseo Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Telephone (405) 524-8511 / Facsimile (405) 524-2296
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Attorneys for the Defendant, Attorney General of the state of Oklahoma
Jeb E. Josephe, OBA #19137
Charles Dickson, III, OBA #17941
Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office
313 NE 21st Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Telephone (405) 521-3921
Facsimile (405) 521-6246
The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma is a nonprofit, non-partisan, privately funded organization devoted exclusively to the defense and promotion of the individual rights secured by the U.S. and Oklahoma constitutions.
The Center for Media and Democracy is a national watchdog group that conducts in-depth investigations into corruption and the undue influence of corporations on media and democracy.
MSNBC is the premier destination for in-depth analysis of daily headlines, insightful political commentary and informed perspectives. Reaching more than 95 million households worldwide, MSNBC offers a full schedule of live news coverage, political opinions and award-winning documentary programming — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Intercept is dedicated to producing fearless, adversarial journalism. We believe journalism should bring transparency and accountability to powerful governmental and corporate institutions, and our journalists have the editorial freedom and legal support to pursue this mission.
Tulsa World Media Company owns a suite of brands that serve as the preeminent sources of news and information for northeast Oklahoma. Our brands include Tulsa World, tulsaworld.com, the Broken Arrow Ledger, the Owasso Reporter, Tulsa World Classifieds, World Extra, OKPrepsExtra.com and more. Tulsa World Media Company is a part of BH Media Group, a Berkshire Hathaway Company.
We serve the communities in northeast Oklahoma by providing trusted news and information to readers and viewers while helping businesses reach customers using traditional and innovative marketing solutions.
Located in Charleston, W.Va., the West Virginia Coal Association is a trade association representing more than 90 percent of the state’s underground and surface coal mine production. Its purpose is to have a unified voice representing the state’s coal industry as well as increase emphasis on coal as a reliable energy source to help the nation achieve energy independence.
Manufacturing Criminality: How Law Enforcement Creates Its Own Justice
(Feb. 23, 2017 10:00 a.m.) The recent article published Wednesday by TheIntercept.com (excerpt below) demonstrates how law enforcement manufactures its own criminal products by sprinkling in their own special ingredients into their tax payer funded activities.
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Excerpt:
Trump’s First Terror Arrest: A Broke Stoner The FBI Threatened At Knifepoint
By Murtaza Hussain, TheIntercept.com
(Feb. 22, 2017 5:36pm) THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE proudly announced the first FBI terror arrest of the the Trump administration on Tuesday: An elaborate sting operation that snared a 25-year old Missouri man who had no terrorism contacts besides the two undercover FBI agents who paid him to buy hardware supplies they said was for a bomb — and who at one point pulled a knife on him and threatened his family.
Robert Lorenzo Hester of Columbia, Missouri, didn’t have the $20 he needed to buy the 9-volt batteries, duct tape, and roofing nails his new FBI friends wanted him to get, so they gave him the money. The agents noted in a criminal complaint that Hester, who at one point brought his two small children to a meeting because he didn’t have child care, continued smoking marijuana despite professing to be a devout Muslim.
Cabbagetown, Ga. (Oct. 24, 2014) – The Krog Street Tunnel became the center of controversy this week when local residents and graffiti artists painted over all the graffiti lining inside of the tunnel’s walls in protest of a city approved event which would close down the tunnel Saturday night. In the aftermath, however, as early as 5:00 a.m. the following morning, graffiti began to return to the tunnel.
The Krog Street Tunnel is a known tourist attraction located in a petite community near Downtown Atlanta called Cabbagetown. The tunnel has grown to be known around the world for its graffiti painted walls covering just about every section of the tunnel end to end.
Along with the aged, pitted and paint peeling walls of the tunnel, comes a “dungeon-like” appearance and feel which creates an ambiance like no other.
It was this ambiance that led Randall Fox of the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces to put on “The Krog Masquerade” event inside the tunnel. The event, to take place Saturday between 8 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. was given the green light by local officials resulting in the tunnel’s closure to the public for the duration of the event.
The public, however, will be permitted to enter for a price. The cost of admission ranges in price from $40 to 50 for general admission tickets, and $100 for VIP tickets.
An advertisement on one of the ticket vendors for the event reads:
Atlantans are invited to slip into a sultry underground experience like no other on Saturday, October 25th when Atlanta’s iconic Krog Street Tunnel transforms into an avant-garde European style masquerade ball. This event will “push the envelope” as guests are immersed in an unforgettable evening of cocktails, sounds by premiere Atlanta DJ Salah, and transformative vignettes behind a red velvet curtain. Brief tableaus of body art, burlesque and peep show performances will stimulate the imagination. Taboo will be the norm at this one-of-a-kind event. Masks, an open mind and an adventurous spirit are required for entry.
In response to the permitting of the event by local officials, and what is deemed to be an exploitation of the graffiti artists’ work which put the Krog Street Tunnel on the map, residents and graffiti artists got together Wednesday night and painted over the tunnel walls with various shades of light colored paint.
This act would later be called the “white-washing” or “buffing” of the Krog Street Tunnel.
The white-washing in no uncertain terms sparked controversy amongst residents and artists in the community. The controversy has made local and national headlines.
Generally, the effect of the white-washing of the tunnel was geared toward sending a message to the financially driven Krog Masquerade event since the painting over of the graffiti removed the ambiance the event organizers were hoping to cash-in on as a way to entice ticket sales.
The backlash, however, has impacted both local residents and graffiti artists alike.
“I go through this tunnel every day to go to work and was devastated when I saw what they did to the tunnel,” said one of two women who earlier were spray painting various sections inside the tunnel at a feverish and visibly in an angry pace. “I feel like they have taken something away from me.”
Her friend, who had also participated in the community meetings regarding the approval and permitting process for the event, said she felt as if the city just went ahead and did what they wanted to do regardless of local residential concerns.
Another man, dressed with a tie, sports jacket and slacks, walked through the tunnel inspecting it like a doctor looking over a patient in need of immediate care.
Turns out, this man was a professional graffiti artist who was surveying the tunnel in the planning of its inevitable restoration. A project he says is attracting not only local but out of state graffiti artists from around the country?
Going by the tag name “LaLaRand”, has been a professional graffiti artists for more than ten years. Given his professional appearance, he didn’t fit the stereotypical image of a graffiti artist.
LaLaRand spoke in precise and well informed manner when describing briefly the history of the tunnel, “white-washing”, and the different styles of graffiti art.
More importantly, LaLaRand spoke about the process taking place inside the tunnel, pointing out the armature as well as professional works already on the walls less than 24 hours after the white-washing.
The evening had grown colder, dropping down into the lower 50’s.
Standing with his hands in his pockets, and while constantly looking down the tunnel observing carefully what was going on, LaLaRand stood at the south end of the tunnel. Pointing toward the southwest pedestrian entrance side of the tunnel he said, “You see, somebody has already painted over my logo.”
LaLaRand knew who the graffiti artist was who had painted over his logo and said it was a privileged to have been tagged by a leading graffiti artist from the area.
Graffiti artists apparently communicate with one another using their works as the parts of their unspoken language.
LaLaRand was not very concerned about how the graffiti had been painted over. Turns out graffiti artists are used to their work being either white-washed, or painted over by other artists. He was, however, tuned into what was going to happen to the tunnel’s walls after the event. “The real work will come in the week after the event is over,” he said.
Disappearing down the dimly lit tunnel, LaLaRand excused himself so he could speak with graffiti artists already at work on the walls.
Well after midnight, traffic travelling through the tunnel slows down considerably. This allows the natural sounds of graffiti artists at work to be heard. Cans being shaken, sprayed and occasionally dropped carried the cold damp air into the early morning hours.
A City of Atlanta police car had also passed through the tunnel at least twice without incident. Because the walls and support structures are owned by the CSX Corp., a Jacksonville, Fla., based freight railroad corporation, spraying graffiti inside the tunnel is allowed and not prohibited by law.
The white-washing of the Krog Street tunnel may have stepped on the toes of local residents and graffiti artists, however, the controversy has managed to forge them together toward a collaborative effort to restore the Krog Street Tunnel.
Julian Assange Interview by Cornel West (05-10-2013) Slideshow Compilation Cover .
Ecuadorian Embassy, LONDON (May 10, 2013) – Wikileaks founder Julian Assange Speaks with Dr. Cornel West on May 10, 2013 at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. A wide range of topics are discussed during this interview conducted by Dr. West, of SmileyandWest.com. The interview is being presented here with accompanying photo collages relevant to the interview. Recompilation (Audio w/ Photographic Archive Overlay) (PublicChronicle.com)
The Federation of American Scientist has made available a report dated June 14, 2013, titled, “Armed Conflict in Syria: U.S. and International Response” which contains a concise analysis of issues pertaining to Syria.
The report was prepared by authors Jeremy M. Sharp, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs and Christopher M. Blanchard, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs, and contains historical as well as current information to include past and current congressional action and military conflict analysis, relevant population and refugee figures, graphics, to include: secular, military, insurgent, and regime breakdowns, including their associated flags, GDP, surrounding national impact analysis, and maps of the region(s) involved.
The report contains core information from which to continue further analysis of the region as it pertains to the current contemplation of U.S. military involvement.
Below is the index and summary sections of the report.
Index
Assessment (1)
Status of Ongoing Armed Conflict (2)
Possible Questions for Congressional Oversight on Recent Events (4)
Key Developments (8)
Debating the Expansion of U.S. Civilian and Military Assistance (8)
International Conference on Syrian Political Settlement (11)
Can the Syria Civil War be Stopped? (12)
Status of the Syrian Political Opposition (12)
Al Qaeda, Extremism, and Foreign Fighters (14)
U.S. Policy and Issues for Congress (9)
The Syria Uprising and Civil War: U.S. Response, 2011-Present (9)
Debating U.S. Intervention (12)
U.S. Assistance (13)
Securing Syrian Weapons Stockpiles (15)
Outlook and Future Policy Considerations for Congress (18)
Possible Appropriations and Authorization Issues (18)
Securing Weapons Supplies and Sites (19)
Addressing Syria’s State Sponsor of Terrorism Status (20)
Other Questions for Congressional Oversight (21)
Summary
The popular-uprising-turned-armed-rebellion in Syria is in its third year, and seems poised to continue, with the government and a bewildering array of militias locked in a bloody struggle of attrition. The Obama Administration has signaled a pending expansion of U.S. civilian and military assistance to the opposition in the wake of the U.S. intelligence community’s conclusion that President Bashar al Asad’s forces used chemical weapons in limited attacks in recent months. U.S. officials and many analysts have asserted that President Asad and his supporters will be forced from power, but few offer specific, credible timetables for a resolution to the crisis. Further escalation in fighting or swift regime change could jeopardize the security of chemical and conventional weapons stockpiles, threaten minority groups, or lead to wider regional conflict.
Opposition forces are formidable, but regime forces, backed by Hezbollah fighters and Iranian and Russian material support, have initiated successful tactical counteroffensives in recent weeks. The Syrian military continues to use air strikes, artillery, and pro-government militias in punishing attacks on areas where rebels operate. Some members of Syria’s Sunni Arab majority and of ethnic and sectarian minority groups view the conflict in communal, zero-sum terms. U.S. officials believe that fighting would likely continue even if Asad were toppled.
Amid extensive damage to major urban areas and reports attributing war crimes to government and opposition forces, the fighting has created a regional humanitarian emergency. Some estimates suggest more than 90,000 Syrians have been killed since unrest began in March 2011. As of June 14, more than 1,638,102 refugees had fled Syria amid United Nations projections the total may reach 3.5 million by years end. According to U.N. estimates, as many as 4.25 million Syrians may be internally displaced. U.N. agencies have launched their largest ever humanitarian assistance appeal– seeking $4.4 billion for the Syria crisis in 2013. The United States has provided more than $513 million in humanitarian assistance to date.
President Obama and his Administration have been calling for Asad’s resignation since August 2011, and have pressed the United Nations Security Council to condemn the Syrian government. The United States has recognized the National Coalition of Revolution and Opposition Forces (SC) as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people and has provided nonlethal assistance to the Coalition and an affiliated Supreme Military Council (SMC). The Obama Administration believes that a negotiated political settlement is required and has prepared military plans to secure Syria’s stockpiles of chemical weapons, if necessary.
Some observers advocate for more robust civil and military aid to the SC and SMC as a means of forcing the Asad regime to the negotiating table. Opponents of this approach argue that making opposition groups more formidable could intensify the fighting and risks empowering extremists. Some armed opposition factions, including powerful Islamist coalitions, reject negotiation.
After two years of unrest and violence, the central question for policy makers remains how best to bring the conflict in Syria to a close before the crisis consigns the region to one of several destructive and destabilizing scenarios. The human toll of the fighting, and the resulting political, ethnic, and sectarian polarization, all but guarantee that political, security, humanitarian, and economic challenges will outlast Asad and keep Syria on the U.S. agenda for years to come.
About FAS
The following is a description about the FAS as posted on their website.
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) works to provide science-based analysis of and solutions to protect against catastrophic threats to national and international security. Specifically, FAS works to reduce the spread and number of nuclear weapons, prevent nuclear and radiological terrorism, promote high standards for nuclear energy’s safety and security, illuminate government secrecy practices, as well as track and eliminate the global illicit trade of conventional, nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. FAS was founded in 1945 by many of the Manhattan Project scientists who wanted to prevent nuclear war and is one of the longest serving organizations in the world dedicated to reducing nuclear threats and informing the public debate by providing technically-based research and analysis on these issues.
(Feb. 23, 2017 2:20 p.m.) — The recent swearing in of Scott Pruitt as the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Friday came days before a court ordered release of more than 7,500 pages of communications between Pruitt and related fossil fuel industry interests. Also Friday, Pruitt submitted his resignation as attorney general to Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin.
