SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2019, Issue No. 23
May 22, 2019

Secrecy News Blog: https://fas.org/blogs/secrecy/

ELECTION INTERFERENCE EMERGENCY ORDER NETS NO CULPRITS

Last September, President Trump issued an executive order declaring a national emergency "to deal with the threat of foreign interference in United States elections." Executive Order 13848 authorized sanctions against foreign individuals and entities determined to have engaged in election interference.

Six months later, no such individuals or entities have been identified.

"No entities or individuals have been designated pursuant to E.O. 13848," according to the first semi-annual report on the national emergency issued by the Secretary of the Treasury. As a result, no sanctions were imposed and no civil penalties were assessed. (However, approximately $310,000 was spent to implement the executive order, "most of which represent wage and salary costs for federal personnel.")

See Periodic Report on the National Emergency With Respect to the Threat of Foreign Interference in United States Elections, September 12, 2018 through March 5, 2019, Department of the Treasury, which was released this week under the Freedom of Information Act.

In a classified report earlier this year, the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security said they found no evidence that a foreign government or foreign agent had a material impact on the integrity or security of the 2018 midterm elections.

ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY DEATHS, AND MORE FROM CRS

"Since 2006 -- five years after the start of major combat operations in Afghanistan and three years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq -- a total of 16,652 active duty personnel and mobilized reservists have died while serving in the U.S. armed forces," the Congressional Research Service said, based on data obtained from the Department of Defense. See Recent Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths, CRS In Focus, updated May 20, 2019:

Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Military Personnel and Extremism: Law, Policy, and Considerations for Congress, CRS Insight, updated May 16, 2019:

United States Foreign Intelligence Relationships: Background, Policy and Legal Authorities, Risks, Benefits, May 15, 2019:

Global Human Rights: The Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, CRS In Focus, updated May 20, 2019:

Combating Corruption in Latin America: Congressional Considerations, May 21, 2019:

Cuba: Trump Administration Expands Sanctions, CRS Insight, May 17, 2019:

The European Parliament and U.S. Interests, CRS In Focus, May 16, 2019:

Long Live Cash: The Potential Decline of Cash Usage and Related Implications, May 10, 2019:

Electronic Messaging Recordkeeping Requirements, CRS In Focus, May 21, 2019:

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Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the Federation of American Scientists.

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