Secrets and Laws
@secretsandlaws.bsky.social
Former CIA attorney, addressing all things relating to national security, secrecy, classification, FOIA, climate change, and bird law.
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.
bloom.bg
November 25, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Which is one reason why the Trump Administration is going through so much effort to stop it (the other being that owning the Libs and ruining the planet gives them pleasure).
November 6, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Which is one reason why the Trump Administration is going through so much effort to stop it (the other being that owning the Libs and ruining the planet gives them pleasure).
We have an entrant! But they made the rookie mistake of announcing their intent with one month to go. Still plenty of time for others to jump in.
bsky.app/profile/pbsn...
bsky.app/profile/pbsn...
FIFA has announced the creation of a peace prize, which it plans to award at the draw for the World Cup on Dec. 5 in Washington. https://to.pbs.org/47LyluB
FIFA to award new peace prize at World Cup draw in Washington
FIFA has announced the creation of a peace prize, which it plans to award for the first time at the World Cup draw on Dec. 5 in Washington.
www.pbs.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:15 AM
We have an entrant! But they made the rookie mistake of announcing their intent with one month to go. Still plenty of time for others to jump in.
bsky.app/profile/pbsn...
bsky.app/profile/pbsn...
And bad base running loses championships.
November 2, 2025 at 5:37 PM
And bad base running loses championships.
As I was saying..
November 2, 2025 at 4:26 AM
As I was saying..
If you're not allowed to donate to a political campaign anonymously, why should you be allowed to donate to the federal government anonymously?
October 28, 2025 at 1:48 PM
If you're not allowed to donate to a political campaign anonymously, why should you be allowed to donate to the federal government anonymously?
(This is because when he moved the boxes with classified documents out of DC, he was still President and therefore that act was lawful at the time. If instead he flew out of DC at 1:00 p.m. on January 20, moving the boxes could have been illegal and provided venue in DC).
October 27, 2025 at 1:24 PM
(This is because when he moved the boxes with classified documents out of DC, he was still President and therefore that act was lawful at the time. If instead he flew out of DC at 1:00 p.m. on January 20, moving the boxes could have been illegal and provided venue in DC).
Back when we had a Justice Dept. with integrity, most senior attorneys who I dealt with took a conservative, institutionalist approach when dealing with judges, even crazy ones. It's not surprising that Solicitor General Prelogar took that position here.
x.com/secretsandla...
x.com/secretsandla...
Secrets and Laws on X: "@lee_kovarsky My thinking is mostly influenced by dealing with DOJ over the years & seeing them take a "don't rock the boat" approach many times (even when not justified). They really worry about pissing off other judges, esp. the courts of appeals. ? is whether Smith's team feels this way." / X
@lee_kovarsky My thinking is mostly influenced by dealing with DOJ over the years & seeing them take a "don't rock the boat" approach many times (even when not justified). They really worry about pissing off other judges, esp. the courts of appeals. ? is whether Smith's team feels this way.
x.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Back when we had a Justice Dept. with integrity, most senior attorneys who I dealt with took a conservative, institutionalist approach when dealing with judges, even crazy ones. It's not surprising that Solicitor General Prelogar took that position here.
x.com/secretsandla...
x.com/secretsandla...
A more interesting revelation is that Smith decided to seek Cannon's removal when appealing her dismissal of the case (based on the validity of his appointment), but the Solicitor General overruled him.
I explained the challenges of removal here.
x.com/secretsandla...
I explained the challenges of removal here.
x.com/secretsandla...
x.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:58 PM
A more interesting revelation is that Smith decided to seek Cannon's removal when appealing her dismissal of the case (based on the validity of his appointment), but the Solicitor General overruled him.
I explained the challenges of removal here.
x.com/secretsandla...
I explained the challenges of removal here.
x.com/secretsandla...
As I explained a while back, Smith's decision to bring the case in Florida rather than DC, while painful, was the legally correct decision.
DC might have only worked for a narrower GJ obstruction charge, but even that would have faced challenges.
x.com/secretsandla...
DC might have only worked for a narrower GJ obstruction charge, but even that would have faced challenges.
x.com/secretsandla...
Secrets and Laws on X: "Since the "Smith should have just brought the documents case in DC" chorus is picking up again, it's time for a reminder as to why that's not true. Please read before continuing to propagate this false premise." / X
Since the "Smith should have just brought the documents case in DC" chorus is picking up again, it's time for a reminder as to why that's not true. Please read before continuing to propagate this false premise.
x.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:57 PM
As I explained a while back, Smith's decision to bring the case in Florida rather than DC, while painful, was the legally correct decision.
DC might have only worked for a narrower GJ obstruction charge, but even that would have faced challenges.
x.com/secretsandla...
DC might have only worked for a narrower GJ obstruction charge, but even that would have faced challenges.
x.com/secretsandla...
They both have a mild cross-eye.
October 26, 2025 at 8:34 PM
They both have a mild cross-eye.