Buzzfeed News reports:
The Drug Enforcement Administration has been granted sweeping new authority to “conduct covert surveillance” and collect intelligence on people participating in protests over the police killing of George Floyd, according to a two-page memorandum obtained by BuzzFeed News.
Floyd’s death “has spawned widespread protests across the nation, which, in some instances, have included violence and looting,” the DEA memo says.
“Police agencies in certain areas of the country have struggled to maintain and/or restore order.” The memo requests the extraordinary powers on a temporary basis, and on Sunday afternoon a senior Justice Department official signed off.
EXCLUSIVE: The DEA has been granted sweeping authority to “conduct covert surveillance” on people protesting over George Floyd’s death, a secret memo reveals https://t.co/QYv8Lp8YWO
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) June 2, 2020
Three DEA sources told BuzzFeed News they’re troubled by the memo and see it as an example of the Justice Department potentially abusing its power in an attempt to smear the protests and crack down on protected First Amendment activity https://t.co/QYv8Lp8YWO
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) June 2, 2020
A senior Justice Dept. official has signed off on granting the DEA sweeping authority to “conduct covert surveillance” and collect intelligence on people participating in George Floyd protests and share it with federal, state, local and tribal authorities. https://t.co/PNDbmm0kF1 pic.twitter.com/TnOt0mMsO0
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) June 3, 2020
.@DEAHQ gains power to “conduct covert surveillance” of George Floyd protests, to investigate and report on federal crimes being committed.
The move is only currently authorized for 14 days.https://t.co/VUqwtEGwP2
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) June 3, 2020