Wikileaks researcher detained at border
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LAS VEGAS -- A security researcher involved with the Wikileaks Web site was detained by U.S. agents at the border for three hours and questioned about the controversial whistleblower project as he entered the country on Thursday to attend a hacker conference, sources said on Saturday.
Jacob Appelbaum, a Seattle-based programmer for the online privacy protection project called Tor, arrived at the Newark, New Jersey, airport from Holland flight Thursday morning when he was pulled aside by customs and border protection agents who told him he was randomly selected for a security search, according to the sources familiar with the matter who asked to remain anonymous.
Appelbaum, a U.S. citizen, was taken into a room, frisked and his bag was searched. Receipts from his bag were photocopied and his laptop was inspected but it's not clear in what manner, the sources said. Officials from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Army then told him he was not under arrest but was being detained, the sources said. They asked questions about Wikileaks, asked for his opinions about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and asked where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is, but he declined to comment without a lawyer present, according to the sources. He was not permitted to make a phone call, they said.
For more on this story, read Researcher detained at U.S. border, questioned about Wikileaks on CNET News.
Talkback Most Recent of 8 Talkback(s)
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America's Finest
How proud we must be having goon squads like these guys protecting our borders. Interesting, though, that the ones with the really big badges, Homeland Security, didn't make the cut on this one. Interesting, too, how much Obamaland resembles the policies of Dubyaland.
nikacat2nd Aug 2010 -
RE: Wikileaks researcher detained at border
We would stop a member of Al Queda flying in to Las Vegas. After what Wikileaks has put on the internet endangering large numbers of lives in Afghanistan -- essentially taking a position opposite the United States in that war -- there is nothing wrong with stopping anyone connected with Wikileaks.
The stop, search and questioning is a far cry from what our opponents would have done!
cuhulin3rd Aug 2010 -
RE: Wikileaks researcher detained at border
Some would like more "direct" action than detaining...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/02/AR2010080202627.html
jakerson9@...3rd Aug 2010 -
RE: Wikileaks researcher detained at border
@jakerson9@...
Yeah! I've got a freshly dug, deep hole filled with fire ants just waiting. Call me!!
windozefreak3rd Aug 2010 -
Interesting how Wilileaks has nothing on Al Queda!
Or they just ain't THAT stupid?
kd5auq3rd Aug 2010 -
RE: Wikileaks researcher detained at border
If you have looked at any FOIA released documents and the wanton use of [REDACTED] then you should know that our system of classified information is a joke. If you believe all that black ink on our government docs is there for safety reasons and not to keep rich people out of prison you may want to turn on that critical thinking and let me know how it went.
biffjenkins3rd Aug 2010 -
RE: Wikileaks researcher detained at border
sorry for double posting, but they also detained a 5 year old because his name was on the no fly list. They were incapable of this old magic called common sense and detained him for hours and would not let his mother even give him a bottle of water because he was a danger until it was cleared. If this sounds ok to you, they've done their job and I'm glad I'm never going to bring a child into this world and its future.biffjenkins3rd Aug 2010 -
RE: Wikileaks researcher detained at border
The USA allows over USD 40 billion a year in drugs and cash to flow across the fenced border with Mexico. That's USD 40 billion in drugs coming in and USD 40 billion in cash flowing out. What makes us think the FBI, Homeland Security, or any other alleged protective service can stop a small army of dedicated terrorists?
seaforte0310th Aug 2010
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