Andrea Noble
Articles by Andrea Noble
DOJ task force to review marijuana enforcement as part of crime reduction effort
States that have legalized recreational or medical marijuana could have a better idea by late July how the Justice Department intends to handle marijuana enforcement under the Trump administration. Published April 5, 2017
Baltimore consent decree hearing will go forward Thursday, judge rules
A court hearing at which the public will be able to comment on a proposed agreement to reform the Baltimore Police Department will go forward Thursday, despite an attempt by the Justice Department to postpone the event. Published April 5, 2017
High-ranking Mexican cop warned drug cartel of surveillance, feds say
A former high-ranking commander in the Mexican Federal Police, who served as the agency's point of contact with American law enforcement, stands accused of leaking details about DEA investigations to drug cartel members who were under surveillance, according to U.S. federal authorities. Published April 5, 2017
Taser International to give police free body-worn cameras
Taser International, the company best known for making electroshock weapons used by law enforcement, announced a new program to distribute free body-worn cameras to police officers across the country. Published April 5, 2017
Paul Penzone, Maricopa County sheriff, shutting down Joe Arpaio’s Tent City initiative
The man who ousted Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio from the law enforcement job he held for more than two decades is now shutting down his predecessor's signature initiative -- Tent City. Published April 5, 2017
Police department reforms to continue after Justice Department pause
Officials in Chicago and Baltimore pledged Tuesday to move forward with drastic reforms of their police departments even after the Justice Department signaled that it may pull back on oversight of troubled law enforcement agencies. Published April 4, 2017
DOJ review of court-ordered police reform plans worries advocates
The Trump administration's Justice Department is taking steps to review court-stipulated agreements meant to reform local police departments, a move officials say is meant to improve public safety by repairing relationships with local agencies. Published April 4, 2017
Senate committee advances top DOJ post nominations
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Monday to advance the nominations of two attorneys selected for top spots in the Justice Department. Published April 3, 2017
American Bar Association’s vetting of judicial nominations curtailed by Trump White House
President Trump will not ask the American Bar Association to evaluate candidates for federal judgeships before formally nominating them for the more than 100 existing judicial vacancies -- a departure from a practice that previously has been criticized for bias against Republican nominees. Published April 1, 2017
![Screen capture from the "Review of Domestic Sharing of Counterterrorism Information" released March 31, 2017 by the inspectors general for the federal Dept. of Homeland Security, Justice Department and U.S. Intelligence Community. [https://oig.justice.gov/reports/2017/a1721.pdf]](https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2017/03/31/IGreportintelsharing_c0-0-977-569_s652x380.png?4e354113a8ac0c17405bd09f365c6d69d854ba9e)
Federal inspectors general report recommends improvements for intelligence sharing
U.S. federal agencies tasked with preventing terror attacks have improved their ability to share counterterrorism information, but additional steps can be taken to increase the dissemination of intelligence reports and to make information sharing more efficient, according to a new watchdog report. Published March 31, 2017
Jose Montano, Rockville rape suspect, hearing postponed; defense says encounter was consensual
A preliminary hearing for the younger of two men accused of raping 14-year-old girl inside a bathroom stall at Rockville High School will be postponed until April 7, a Maryland judge ruled Friday. Published March 31, 2017
Marijuana states California, Colorado and Oregon protect pot users from Donald Trump
Amid uncertainty over the Trump administration's willingness to allow states' recreational marijuana markets to flourish, lawmakers from those states are taking proactive steps to protect their newly legal pot industries from a federal crackdown. Published March 30, 2017
DOJ to streamline deportation hearings for illegal immigrants in prison
The Justice Department intends to expand and modernize the way it conducts deportation proceedings for criminals so that illegal immigrants are deported immediately after they finish prison sentences, officials announced Thursday. Published March 30, 2017
Ron Wyden, Earl Blumenauer introduce legislation to liberalize federal law governing marijuana
With uncertainty over the Trump administration's willingness to allow states' legal marijuana markets to flourish, federal lawmakers are teaming up to introduce legislation meant to protect their states' marijuana laws. Published March 30, 2017
Judge Derrick Watson extends Hawaii block of Trump’s travel ban
A federal judge in Hawaii extends order blocking President Trump's revised executive order on travel. Published March 29, 2017
Cash seizures from drug-related crimes don’t always help criminal investigations: Study
The Drug Enforcement Administration has seized more than $4 billion in cash from people suspected of involvement in drug-related crimes as part of its asset forfeiture program since 2007. Published March 29, 2017
Less than 1% of U.S. refugees brought to Hawaii since 2010: State Department
Out of more than 530,000 refugees settled in the United States since 2010, only 20 were brought to Hawaii for resettlement, according to a senior State Department official. Published March 29, 2017
State Department employee charged after having secret contact with Chinese operatives
The Justice Department on Wednesday announced charges against a State Department employee who prosecutors said failed to disclose contact she had with Chinese intelligence agents and accepted gifts from the agents - ranging from cash to a laptop computer to a fully furnished apartment. Published March 29, 2017
Watchdog raps DEA for cash seizures that don’t advance investigations
A new watchdog report finds that cash seizures aren't always helping law enforcement advance criminal investigations. Published March 29, 2017
Iraqis scam their way into U.S. as refugees with phony kidnapping story: Prosecutors
Adil Hasan and his brother fabricated a kidnapping story in order to justify their refugee resettlement applications submitted to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees while they were residing in a refugee camp in Jordan, federal prosecutors said. Published March 28, 2017
