Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Nancy Pelosi supports call for Secret Service chief to go
Secret Service Director Julia Pierson House should be ousted from her job, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday, agreeing with the recommendation of the top Democrat on the oversight committee. Published October 1, 2014
Feds to spend $9 million on attorneys for illegal immigrant kids
The Obama administration will pay $9 million over the next two years to give taxpayer-funded attorneys to some of the illegal immigrant children who have surged across the U.S. border this year, the Health and Human Services Department said Tuesday. Published September 30, 2014
Six fence-jumpers breached White House this year; 16 in past five years
Six people have jumped the fence at the White House this year alone, and 16 have jumped the fence over the past five years, Secret Service Director Julia A. Pierson told Congress on Tuesday as she tried to explain how an intruder managed to cross the lawn and get into the president's iconic residence. Published September 30, 2014
Rep. Frank Wolf demands Oklahoma beheading be investigated as terrorism
A top congressman sent a letter Tuesday demanding the Justice Department investigate last week's beheading in Oklahoma as a possible terrorist incident, rather than dismissing it as workplace violence. Published September 30, 2014
Obama could stop 50,000 deportations a year by carving out traffic crimes: report
As many as 50,000 illegal immigrants a year could be allowed to remain in the U.S. if President Obama decides that traffic crimes no longer rise to the level of deportation, according to a report being released Tuesday by the Center for Immigration Studies. Published September 30, 2014
IRS doesn’t do enough to collect on tax debts: audit
The IRS wrote off nearly $7 billion in tax debts in cases where it said it couldn't locate the taxpayer in 2012, but an audit released Monday found that more than half of the time the agency gave up too soon and didn't show it had done everything needed to prove it could never get the money. Published September 29, 2014
Scuttled illegal immigrant housing site in Virginia accuses HHS, neighbors of discrimination
Community outrage forced the federal government to nix its plans to house illegal immigrant children at a defunct college in rural Virginia, but the school fought back this month with discrimination complaints accusing both the Obama administration and its own neighbors of bigotry. Published September 28, 2014
Contempt of Congress case against Holder will proceed
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. announced Thursday he is resigning as soon as a replacement is found, though he and the Justice Department still face contempt of Congress charges that will linger well after he officially gives up the office. Published September 25, 2014
U.S. immigration from southeast Asia, Middle East skyrockets
Immigration from southeast Asia and the Middle East has skyrocketed in the last few years, according to a report released Thursday that found the overall immigrant population has hit a record 41.3 million. Published September 25, 2014
Sanctuary 2014 church network helping illegal immigrants avoid deportation
A network of two dozen churches has promised to offer "physical sanctuary" to illegal immigrants facing deportation, saying they want to create a safe haven that federal officials won't invade as a way of preventing the migrants from being kicked out of the country. Published September 24, 2014
Obama administration approves overpayments to GM, Ally Financial execs: audit
The Obama administration approved "excessive" pay for top executives at General Motors Co. and Ally Financial Inc. even as the two companies were falling behind on repaying taxpayers for being rescued after the Wall Street collapse, the bailout watchdog concluded in a report released Wednesday. Published September 24, 2014
Obama use of Sept. 11 authority for Syria airstrikes questioned
With nearly two dozen attacks in Syria against both the Islamic State and the Khorasan Group, an al Qaeda offshoot that the administration said posed an immediate threat to the U.S., President Obama this week opened a new front in the war on terror that he said was winding down just a year ago. Published September 23, 2014
Sylvia Burwell touts Obamacare enrollment numbers
After nearly a year of full operation under its belt Obamacare is a growing success, and next year will be even better with 77 new insurers preparing to offer plans on the new insurance markets, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell said Tuesday. Published September 23, 2014
Obama given green light to battle ISIS in renewed war on terrorism
Congress gave final permission Thursday for the Pentagon to train and arm Syrian rebels, approving part of President Obama's war plans before fleeing Washington for a two-month break, leaving the White House free rein to fight a war against the Islamic State on its own terms. Published September 18, 2014
French to join U.S. coalition in Iraq
France will join the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State by helping the U.S. conduct airstrikes in Iraq, President Obama said Thursday night as he basked in a successful vote in Congress giving him permission to arm and train Syrian rebels. Published September 18, 2014
Senate falls short in bid to halt Obama immigration policies
Senate Republicans narrowly missed a chance Thursday to halt President Obama's non-deportation policies, falling just short in a vote that saw even five Democrats join them in signaling worries over the White House's immigration plans. Published September 18, 2014
ISIS could use ‘loose’ immigration system to enter U.S.: Immigration officer
Islamic State militants could come to the U.S. through the front door, using America's "loose and lax" legal immigration system to gain a foothold here, the president of the union that represents immigration case officers said Thursday in a scathing letter. Published September 18, 2014
John Kerry takes go-slow approach on revoking passports
While he has the power to revoke passports of those traveling to fight in Syria, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Thursday he wants to be careful in using that authority so he doesn't disrupt any ongoing criminal investigations. Published September 18, 2014
Former commander says nixing U.S. ground troops damages international coalition
Taking ground combat troops off the table in the fight against the Islamic State could be hurting President Obama's efforts to build an international coalition because it leaves questions about the U.S. commitment, the former commander who oversaw military efforts in the Middle East said Thursday. Published September 18, 2014
House approves Obama plan to arm, train Syrian rebels to fight ISIS
The House voted Wednesday to approve President Obama's request to open a new front in the war on terrorism, granting him permission to train and arm some Syrian rebels in the hope that they will fight Islamic State militants advancing in Syria and Iraq. Published September 17, 2014
