William Turton
@williamturton.bsky.social
Reporter, ProPublica. Focused on federal law enforcement
Contact me on Signal: 804-295-7201
[email protected]
Contact me on Signal: 804-295-7201
[email protected]
Happening now in NYC: The names of journalists, artists, writers, scholars, and media workers killed in Gaza are being projected onto 33 Thomas Street.
November 21, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Happening now in NYC: The names of journalists, artists, writers, scholars, and media workers killed in Gaza are being projected onto 33 Thomas Street.
Reposted by William Turton
The FBI has recently used polygraph tests to ask senior employees if they have said anything negative about FBI Director Kash Patel or had spoken to the media.
Separately, Patel granted waivers to Deputy Director Dan Bongino and two other staffers, exempting them from passing polygraph exams.
Separately, Patel granted waivers to Deputy Director Dan Bongino and two other staffers, exempting them from passing polygraph exams.
FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff
As the FBI’s deputy director, Bongino receives some of the country’s most sensitive secrets, including the President’s Daily Brief. His ascent to that position without passing a standard bureau backgr...
www.propublica.org
November 14, 2025 at 5:21 PM
The FBI has recently used polygraph tests to ask senior employees if they have said anything negative about FBI Director Kash Patel or had spoken to the media.
Separately, Patel granted waivers to Deputy Director Dan Bongino and two other staffers, exempting them from passing polygraph exams.
Separately, Patel granted waivers to Deputy Director Dan Bongino and two other staffers, exempting them from passing polygraph exams.
Reposted by William Turton
Doesn't surprise me in the least. Full disclosure: I was one of the lawyers interviewed about this, and everything they say is accurate about how unprecedented this is. If I were to ask for a waiver for a client after they didn't pass a poly, I'd be laughed out of the room.
New: FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...
FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff
As the FBI’s deputy director, Bongino receives some of the country’s most sensitive secrets, including the President’s Daily Brief. His ascent to that position without passing a standard bureau backgr...
www.propublica.org
November 14, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Doesn't surprise me in the least. Full disclosure: I was one of the lawyers interviewed about this, and everything they say is accurate about how unprecedented this is. If I were to ask for a waiver for a client after they didn't pass a poly, I'd be laughed out of the room.
Reposted by William Turton
NEW: FBI Director Kash Patel granted waivers to Deputy Director Dan Bongino and two newly hired senior FBI staff, exempting them from polygraph exams normally required to gain access to America’s most sensitive classified information, officials said.
FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff
As the FBI’s deputy director, Bongino receives some of the country’s most sensitive secrets, including the President’s Daily Brief. His ascent to that position without passing a standard bureau backgr...
www.propublica.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:35 PM
NEW: FBI Director Kash Patel granted waivers to Deputy Director Dan Bongino and two newly hired senior FBI staff, exempting them from polygraph exams normally required to gain access to America’s most sensitive classified information, officials said.
Reposted by William Turton
"Former FBI officials said they could not recall a single instance in which a senior official like Bongino received a waiver and was then given a top secret clearance."
FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff
As the FBI’s deputy director, Bongino receives some of the country’s most sensitive secrets, including the President’s Daily Brief. His ascent to that position without passing a standard bureau…
www.propublica.org
November 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM
"Former FBI officials said they could not recall a single instance in which a senior official like Bongino received a waiver and was then given a top secret clearance."
New: FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...
FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff
As the FBI’s deputy director, Bongino receives some of the country’s most sensitive secrets, including the President’s Daily Brief. His ascent to that position without passing a standard bureau backgr...
www.propublica.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:49 PM
New: FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...
Reposted by William Turton
NEW: DHS launched a $200mln+ ad campaign, featuring, Kristi Noem, aimed at stemming illegal immigration.
We found the firm secretly hired for the work has ties to Noem.
@justinelliott.bsky.social, @josh-kaplan.bsky.social & @amierjeski.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/kris...
We found the firm secretly hired for the work has ties to Noem.
@justinelliott.bsky.social, @josh-kaplan.bsky.social & @amierjeski.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/kris...
November 14, 2025 at 11:12 AM
NEW: DHS launched a $200mln+ ad campaign, featuring, Kristi Noem, aimed at stemming illegal immigration.
We found the firm secretly hired for the work has ties to Noem.
@justinelliott.bsky.social, @josh-kaplan.bsky.social & @amierjeski.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/kris...
We found the firm secretly hired for the work has ties to Noem.
@justinelliott.bsky.social, @josh-kaplan.bsky.social & @amierjeski.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/kris...
Reposted by William Turton
Few people outside North Carolina have heard of Paul Newby, the chief justice of the state’s Supreme Court.
But Newby has had a huge impact on America and his state. He’s done this with the goal of delivering what he’s called “biblical justice, equal justice, for all.”
THREAD 👇
But Newby has had a huge impact on America and his state. He’s done this with the goal of delivering what he’s called “biblical justice, equal justice, for all.”
THREAD 👇
October 30, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Few people outside North Carolina have heard of Paul Newby, the chief justice of the state’s Supreme Court.
But Newby has had a huge impact on America and his state. He’s done this with the goal of delivering what he’s called “biblical justice, equal justice, for all.”
THREAD 👇
But Newby has had a huge impact on America and his state. He’s done this with the goal of delivering what he’s called “biblical justice, equal justice, for all.”
THREAD 👇
Reposted by William Turton
Justice Brett Kavanaugh: “If the officers learn that the individual they stopped is a U.S. citizen...they promptly let the individual go."
The reality: Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.
A must read from the very talented @nicolefoy.bsky.social:
The reality: Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.
A must read from the very talented @nicolefoy.bsky.social:
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
October 16, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Justice Brett Kavanaugh: “If the officers learn that the individual they stopped is a U.S. citizen...they promptly let the individual go."
The reality: Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.
A must read from the very talented @nicolefoy.bsky.social:
The reality: Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.
A must read from the very talented @nicolefoy.bsky.social:
Reposted by William Turton
BREAKING from PP
We found immigration agents have held more than 170 *citizens*
The govt doesn't track citizens held. So we did. We tallied:
Nearly 20 kids, two w/ cancer
More than 20 citizens held for day or more, incommunicado
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
by @nicolefoy.bsky.social
We found immigration agents have held more than 170 *citizens*
The govt doesn't track citizens held. So we did. We tallied:
Nearly 20 kids, two w/ cancer
More than 20 citizens held for day or more, incommunicado
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
by @nicolefoy.bsky.social
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
October 16, 2025 at 4:06 PM
BREAKING from PP
We found immigration agents have held more than 170 *citizens*
The govt doesn't track citizens held. So we did. We tallied:
Nearly 20 kids, two w/ cancer
More than 20 citizens held for day or more, incommunicado
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
by @nicolefoy.bsky.social
We found immigration agents have held more than 170 *citizens*
The govt doesn't track citizens held. So we did. We tallied:
Nearly 20 kids, two w/ cancer
More than 20 citizens held for day or more, incommunicado
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
by @nicolefoy.bsky.social
I’m speaking on this panel alongside Matthew
NYC: I'll see you tomorrow at NYU's one-day Detention and Deportation Conference. I'll be on the afternoon panel speaking about the technology being used for immigration enforcement.
Detention and Deportation Conference - APA
Presented by the NYU Migration Network. Co-sponsored by the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU. REGISTER Join the NYU Migration Network for a full-day conference exploring detention and deportati...
apa.nyu.edu
October 15, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I’m speaking on this panel alongside Matthew
Reposted by William Turton
NEW: Nathan Albers once co-owned a company that schemed to hire and conceal undocumented workers.
Now his company could make hundreds of millions from work on the nation's largest detention camp.
“The irony is thick,” said a former DHS official.
Now his company could make hundreds of millions from work on the nation's largest detention camp.
“The irony is thick,” said a former DHS official.
His Former Company Got Caught Employing Undocumented Workers. Now He’s Profiting Off an Immigrant Detention Camp.
Disaster Management Group is one contractor behind the nation’s largest detention camp, to be built at Fort Bliss. It’s run by Nathan Albers, who previously co-owned a company that pleaded guilty to a...
www.propublica.org
July 25, 2025 at 11:15 AM
NEW: Nathan Albers once co-owned a company that schemed to hire and conceal undocumented workers.
Now his company could make hundreds of millions from work on the nation's largest detention camp.
“The irony is thick,” said a former DHS official.
Now his company could make hundreds of millions from work on the nation's largest detention camp.
“The irony is thick,” said a former DHS official.
Reposted by William Turton
You may have seen reports about the release of Venezuelans the Trump administration sent to a Salvadoran prison and called "the worst of the worst."
But when we set out to learn more about them, that's not what we found. 🧵
But when we set out to learn more about them, that's not what we found. 🧵
July 23, 2025 at 5:28 PM
You may have seen reports about the release of Venezuelans the Trump administration sent to a Salvadoran prison and called "the worst of the worst."
But when we set out to learn more about them, that's not what we found. 🧵
But when we set out to learn more about them, that's not what we found. 🧵
Reposted by William Turton
The former *police commisioner* said a “rogue” NYPD unit was run by Adams cronies and reported directly to direct City Hall — exactly as we reported.
Adams was so tight with the unit, sources told us, he had secret access to live body-cam footage.
www.propublica.org/article/eric...
Adams was so tight with the unit, sources told us, he had secret access to live body-cam footage.
www.propublica.org/article/eric...
NEW: Former NYPD Commissioner Thomas Donlon has sued Mayor Eric Adams and other top police officials, accusing Adams of running the force as a “criminal enterprise."
The suit draws extensively from a recent ProPublica investigation into a NYPD unit Adams championed.
By @ericumansky.bsky.social
The suit draws extensively from a recent ProPublica investigation into a NYPD unit Adams championed.
By @ericumansky.bsky.social
Former NYPD Commissioner Accuses Mayor Adams of Running “Criminal Enterprise” and Cites ProPublica Investigation
A lawsuit filed by former Commissioner Thomas Donlon alleges that the NYPD’s Community Response Team was a “rogue” unit that answered “only to City Hall.” The complaint draws extensively from ProPubli...
www.propublica.org
July 17, 2025 at 6:37 PM
The former *police commisioner* said a “rogue” NYPD unit was run by Adams cronies and reported directly to direct City Hall — exactly as we reported.
Adams was so tight with the unit, sources told us, he had secret access to live body-cam footage.
www.propublica.org/article/eric...
Adams was so tight with the unit, sources told us, he had secret access to live body-cam footage.
www.propublica.org/article/eric...
Reposted by William Turton
Reposted by William Turton
“If this program is implemented in its current form, it’s extremely likely that incorrect addresses will be given to DHS and individuals will be wrongly targeted.”
The IRS Is Building a Vast System to Share Millions of Taxpayers’ Data With ICE
ProPublica has obtained the blueprint for the Trump administration’s unprecedented plan to turn over IRS records to Homeland Security in order to speed up the agency’s mass deportation efforts.
www.propublica.org
July 16, 2025 at 12:12 AM
“If this program is implemented in its current form, it’s extremely likely that incorrect addresses will be given to DHS and individuals will be wrongly targeted.”
Reposted by William Turton
The IRS is building a database that would let ICE access people's home addresses to speed up mass deportations. It could make dangerous mistakes. Great scoop from @williamturton.bsky.social, @chrisbing.bsky.social, and Avi Asher-Schapiro. www.propublica.org/article/trum...
July 15, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The IRS is building a database that would let ICE access people's home addresses to speed up mass deportations. It could make dangerous mistakes. Great scoop from @williamturton.bsky.social, @chrisbing.bsky.social, and Avi Asher-Schapiro. www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Reposted by William Turton
They were “pushing the boundaries of the law,” one official said. “Everyone at IRS felt the same way.”
@williamturton.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
@williamturton.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
The IRS Is Building a Vast System to Share Millions of Taxpayers’ Data With ICE
ProPublica has obtained the blueprint for the Trump administration’s unprecedented plan to turn over IRS records to Homeland Security in order to speed up the agency’s mass deportation efforts.
www.propublica.org
July 15, 2025 at 4:42 PM
They were “pushing the boundaries of the law,” one official said. “Everyone at IRS felt the same way.”
@williamturton.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
@williamturton.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Reposted by William Turton
NEW: The IRS is building a vast effort to help the Trump Admin deportation apparatus.
A Trump-appointed IRS official objected.
Now he’s out.
& the effort is going forward.
@williamturton.bsky.social, @chrisbing.bsky.social & Avi Shapiro:
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
A Trump-appointed IRS official objected.
Now he’s out.
& the effort is going forward.
@williamturton.bsky.social, @chrisbing.bsky.social & Avi Shapiro:
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
July 15, 2025 at 4:12 PM
NEW: The IRS is building a vast effort to help the Trump Admin deportation apparatus.
A Trump-appointed IRS official objected.
Now he’s out.
& the effort is going forward.
@williamturton.bsky.social, @chrisbing.bsky.social & Avi Shapiro:
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
A Trump-appointed IRS official objected.
Now he’s out.
& the effort is going forward.
@williamturton.bsky.social, @chrisbing.bsky.social & Avi Shapiro:
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
SCOOP: The IRS Is Building a Vast System to Share Millions of Taxpayers’ Data With ICE www.propublica.org/article/trum...
The IRS Is Building a Vast System to Share Millions of Taxpayers’ Data With ICE
ProPublica has obtained the blueprint for the Trump administration’s unprecedented plan to turn over IRS records to Homeland Security in order to speed up the agency’s mass deportation efforts.
www.propublica.org
July 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
SCOOP: The IRS Is Building a Vast System to Share Millions of Taxpayers’ Data With ICE www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Reposted by William Turton
Did You Work on a Terminated NIH Grant? ProPublica Wants to Hear From You. www.propublica.org/getinvolved/...
Did You Work on a Terminated NIH Grant? ProPublica Wants to Hear From You.
The National Institutes of Health is canceling grants that are seen as conflicting with the Trump administration’s priorities. We want to hear from researchers who have been affected.
www.propublica.org
June 23, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Did You Work on a Terminated NIH Grant? ProPublica Wants to Hear From You. www.propublica.org/getinvolved/...
Just saw this movie at Film Forum. Did anything happen while I was gone
June 22, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Just saw this movie at Film Forum. Did anything happen while I was gone
Reposted by William Turton
NEW: At least 38 DOGE members work, or have worked, for one of Elon Musk’s companies.
Meanwhile, nearly two dozen DOGE officials are making cuts to the same federal agencies that regulate the industries that employed them.
Meanwhile, nearly two dozen DOGE officials are making cuts to the same federal agencies that regulate the industries that employed them.
The DOGE 100: Musk Is Out, but More Than 100 of His Followers Remain to Implement Trump’s Blueprint
At least 38 DOGE members work, or have worked, for one of Elon Musk’s companies. Meanwhile, nearly two dozen DOGE officials are making cuts to the same federal agencies that regulate the industries th...
www.propublica.org
June 10, 2025 at 7:04 PM
NEW: At least 38 DOGE members work, or have worked, for one of Elon Musk’s companies.
Meanwhile, nearly two dozen DOGE officials are making cuts to the same federal agencies that regulate the industries that employed them.
Meanwhile, nearly two dozen DOGE officials are making cuts to the same federal agencies that regulate the industries that employed them.
Reposted by William Turton
THREAD: An ex-DOGE engineer with no government or medical experience used AI to identify which Veterans Affairs contracts to kill, labeling them as “MUNCHABLE.”
@vernalcoleman.bsky.social @ericumansky.bsky.social and I got the code. Here’s what it tells us 1/
@vernalcoleman.bsky.social @ericumansky.bsky.social and I got the code. Here’s what it tells us 1/
June 6, 2025 at 2:36 PM
THREAD: An ex-DOGE engineer with no government or medical experience used AI to identify which Veterans Affairs contracts to kill, labeling them as “MUNCHABLE.”
@vernalcoleman.bsky.social @ericumansky.bsky.social and I got the code. Here’s what it tells us 1/
@vernalcoleman.bsky.social @ericumansky.bsky.social and I got the code. Here’s what it tells us 1/
Have y'all ever experienced the signal bug where it asks you to do a capatcha but never actually verifies you, making you unable to send new messages? Any solution to fix?
June 5, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Have y'all ever experienced the signal bug where it asks you to do a capatcha but never actually verifies you, making you unable to send new messages? Any solution to fix?