Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Paul Ryan says Hillary Clinton should be denied intelligence briefings
The government should deny Hillary Clinton the regular national security briefings presidential nominees generally receive, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said Tuesday night. Published July 5, 2016
Republicans demand FBI release investigative files on Hillary Clinton
Top Republicans said Tuesday that the FBI needs to release details of its investigative files on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton if it wants voters to accept its conclusion that her carelessness with top secret information doesn't rise to the level of a prosecutable crime. Published July 5, 2016
Court rules government can’t use private emails to hide from transparency
A federal appeals court issued a stinging rebuke to a top Obama White House official Tuesday, saying he can't hide his emails from public scrutiny merely by shifting them to a non-government account. Published July 5, 2016
FBI recommends no charges against Hillary Clinton
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's secret email account may have broken laws governing handling of classified information, but it's unlikely a prosecutor could make the charges stick, FBI Director James B. Comey said Tuesday, ending his yearlong investigation into the Democratic presidential candidate. Published July 5, 2016
Early voting reduces voter turnout, mailing ballots boosts
Allowing voters to show up and cast ballots ahead of Election Day appears to actually reduce participation, but letting them vote by mail or to show up and register on Election Day boosts turnout, the government's chief research agency said in a new report last week. Published July 4, 2016
State Department thwarts deportations to appease illegal immigrant criminals’ home countries
The State Department is thwarting efforts to deport immigrants to China, Guinea, Liberia and other countries that are reluctant to take back their own citizens convicted of crimes -- forcing immigration agents to release often-violent criminals back onto the streets, U.S. government documents show. Published July 4, 2016
West Virginia’s Obamacare challenge over enforcement alterations dismissed
A federal appeals court seemed sympathetic to West Virginia's complaints about Obamacare but tossed out the state's challenge in a ruling Friday that leaves President Obama with a free hand to alter enforcement of the law. Published July 3, 2016
Clinton gives ‘voluntary interview’ to FBI over email account
Hillary Clinton submitted to an interview with the FBI on Saturday as the Obama administration nears completion of its investigation into her use of a secret email server during her time as State Department secretary. Published July 2, 2016
Appeals court dumps states’ latest challenge to Obamacare
A federal appeals court seemed sympathetic to West Virginia's complaints about Obamacare, but tossed out the state's challenge in a ruling Friday that leaves President Obama with a free hand to alter enforcement of the law. Published July 1, 2016
House to vote on Cornyn gun measure next week
The House has scheduled a vote next week on a bill to stop suspected terrorists from buying firearms from gun dealers as part of a new anti-terrorism package. Published July 1, 2016
Nearly 1 million immigrants — including more than 170K convicts — ignoring deportation
Nearly 1 million immigrants are ignoring deportation orders to remain in the U.S. -- including more than 170,000 convicted criminals, according to a new report Thursday that suggests the government's deportation efforts are still falling short. Published July 1, 2016
Hillary Clinton emails didn’t ‘set off any bells’ for State Department’s Patrick Kennedy
The State Department's top management official received dozens of emails from Hillary Clinton's secret account but said he never bothered to focus on what address she was using -- leaving her free to circumvent open-records laws for her four-year tenure. Published June 30, 2016
U.S. accepts record number of Syrian refugees in June despite terrorist screening worries
The U.S. accepted more than 2,300 Syrian refugees in June alone, sending the fiscal year total soaring past the 5,000 mark and putting the government on track to surpass President Obama's goal of 10,000 by the end of September, but raising questions about screening out potential terrorists. Published June 30, 2016
Harry Reid: ‘We’ve taken a bite out of the NRA,’ confident of gun-control deal this year
Senate Democrats say they are increasingly confident that they will beat the National Rifle Association and force stricter gun control laws in the wake of the Orlando terrorist attack, insisting the tide of public opinion will swing the debate. Published June 30, 2016
Voter citizenship checks in Kansas, Alabama, Georgia upheld by judge
Kansas, Alabama and Georgia can demand their residents submit proof of citizenship before signing up to vote even if they're using the federal government's registration forms, a judge said Wednesday, delivering a win to states concerned about voter fraud. Published June 29, 2016
Hillary Clinton private email server set up before becoming secretary
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began planning use of her secret email address even before she took office in January 2009, top aide Huma Abedin said in sworn testimony this week, raising questions about why no emails from her first few months in office were part of the set she returned to the government. Published June 29, 2016
Benghazi report shows inability of Congress to investigate executive branch
The two-year, $7 million congressional probe into the Benghazi terrorist attack did more than produce an 800-page report, it also exposed how weak Congress has become in trying to investigate the executive branch. Published June 28, 2016
Harry Reid says Marco Rubio should pay taxpayers for missing votes
Sen. Marco Rubio should pay back taxpayers for the votes and committee meetings he missed while running for president, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid insisted Tuesday, delivering a fierce political attack on the Florida Republican. Published June 28, 2016
Benghazi panel: White House focused on anti-Islam film over saving Americans as attack unfolded
Both President Obama and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta ordered that all available resources be used to help fend off the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack, but top administration officials -- including then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- put those plans on hold, according to a congressional report, which said the officials instead debated how to appease the Libyan government. Published June 28, 2016
Benghazi GOP lawmakers say Hillary Clinton created conditions for attack
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ignored repeated warnings of what one security agent called their "suicide mission" in Benghazi, creating the opportunity that terrorists took on Sept. 11, 2012, to kill the ambassador to Libya, two Republicans on the Benghazi probe charged Tuesday. Published June 28, 2016
