Jeff Sessions

By Steve Forbes
Forbes

At this point in our nation’s history President-elect Donald Trump has chosen exactly the right person to serve as our next attorney general: Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama. Senator Sessions has a blend of experience rarely seen in attorneys general: 12 years as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, the top federal law-enforcement officer in that district; several years as the elected attorney general of Alabama; and 20 years as a member of the U.S. Senate. No previous attorney general in our lifetime can match these credentials.

During his time in the Senate, Senator Sessions has served with distinction on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has oversight of the Department of Justice. He has watched the disintegration of the Justice Department under President Obama, including the appointment of two attorneys general who have aided and abetted the unprecedented expansion of unconstitutional executive orders that have undermined the concepts of the Rule of Law and the Separation of Powers that have guided our country’s destiny for over 200 years. Senator Sessions understands the Constitution and is ready, willing and able to assist our next President in returning the nation to the Rule of Law and putting an end to the dictatorial powers assumed by our most recent President.

Senator Sessions understands the criminal justice system and the importance of integrating the efforts of federal, state and local law-enforcement agencies into a seamless web dedicated to public safety. He has personal experience in both state and federal law enforcement, which will enable him to maintain–and improve where necessary–critical interagency cooperation to combat drug trafficking, cyber crime, terrorism, gun violence, immigration enforcement and a variety of other threats to the public.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

A new federal government study has found that the FBI has reported far fewer killings by police than actually happened.

The study found there were about 1,200 killings by police in in 2015, compared to the FBI’s official count of 442. 

The discovery casts serious questions about the data collected by the FBI, which compiles what are supposed to be the official counts.

The study suggests tracking arrest-related deaths by using media reports and follow-ups with law enforcement and coroners’ offices.

“The revised … program methodology is designed to increase the reliability, validity, and comprehensiveness of the data collection,” the study reports.

The ACLU and other independent groups have long criticized the current method of tracking, which comes from police self-reporting the killings.

Golfer Phil Mickelson

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

An FBI agent may be held in contempt of court after confessing to being a “significant source” of leaks to the media about the insider trading investigation involving professional golfer Phil Mickelson and a Las Vegas sports gambler.

Prosecutors on Friday said the agent, who has not been identified, could be held in contempt for potentially jeopardizing the case with leaks involving famed gambler William “Billy” Walters, CNBC reports. 

The agent’s case has been referred to the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility and the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General.

The agent said he leaked information to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

From a corpse to a post-apocalyptic gas mask, the TSA has found some bizarre items from travelers in 2016.

Here is the top 10 list compiled by TSA:

10) Hand Grenade Trailer Hitch Cover: San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) 

9) Hello Kitty Firearm: Bradley International Airport (BDL) 

8) Negan’s Bat Lucille: Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) 

7) Golden Hand Grenade: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) 

6) Replica Suicide Vest: Richmond International Airport (RIC) 

5) Bladed Dragon Claw: Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) 

4) Dead Seahorses in Brandy Bottle: Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) 

3) Five-Bladed Flogger: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) 

2) Post-Apocalyptic Bullet Adorned Gas Mask: Miami International Airport (MIA) 

1) Movie Prop Corpse: Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) 

Other Stories of Interest

• Donald Trump’s Team Tones Down Skepticism on Russia’s Hacking Evidence
• Podesta: FBI Spoke to Me Only Once About My Hacked Emails
• ‘Jackie’ Reviewed by Secret Service Agent Who Protected Her in Dallas
• Smugglers Use Fog As Cover to Sneak Past Border Patrol
• CBD Hemp Oil Named a Schedule I Drug by DEA

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

A Border Patrol agent defending himself against a physical assault shot and injured a man Friday, officials told the Arizona Daily Star. 

The shooting at 8 p.m. occurred when an agent was tracking down two reported undocumented immigrants outside of Douglas, Ariz., near the border with Mexico.

The agent was trying to arrest the two men when one of them began fighting with the agent, officials said. The suspect grabbed the agent’s steel baton, prompting the law enforcement official to shot the suspect, striking him in the leg.

The suspect’s injuries were not life threatening.

Both suspects are in custody.