Thomas Tamm
Encyclopedia
Thomas Tamm is a former lawyer in the United States Department of Justice
's Office of Intelligence Policy and Review
during the period in 2004 when senior Justice officials fought against the widening scope of warrantless NSA surveillance
—and was the anonymous initial whistleblower
to The New York Times
regarding the issue.
he is a former lawyer in the United States Department of Justice
's Office of Intelligence Policy and Review
.
The New York Times
article on December 16, 2005 exposing the warrantless NSA surveillance
for the first time, was based on his initial tip-offs.
Over a year later in 2007 his house was raided by the FBI agents on suspicion of his involvement in leaking the details, but it wasn't until 2008 — online on the 13 December , and then in the December 22, 2008 issue of Newsweek
— that his role was confirmed and he began speaking out publicly.
On April 26th, 2011, after a lengthy criminal investigation, the Justice Department announced that it would be dropping its investigation of Tamm and would not file charges.
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
's Office of Intelligence Policy and Review
Office of Intelligence Policy and Review
The Office of Intelligence Policy and Review is a staff agency within the United States Department of Justice.This government agency handles all Justice Department requests for surveillance authorizations under the terms of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, advises the Attorney...
during the period in 2004 when senior Justice officials fought against the widening scope of warrantless NSA surveillance
NSA warrantless surveillance controversy
The NSA warrantless surveillance controversy concerns surveillance of persons within the United States during the collection of foreign intelligence by the U.S. National Security Agency as part of the war on terror...
—and was the anonymous initial whistleblower
Whistleblower
A whistleblower is a person who tells the public or someone in authority about alleged dishonest or illegal activities occurring in a government department, a public or private organization, or a company...
to The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
regarding the issue.
Background
A 1974 graduate of Brown UniversityBrown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
he is a former lawyer in the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
's Office of Intelligence Policy and Review
Office of Intelligence Policy and Review
The Office of Intelligence Policy and Review is a staff agency within the United States Department of Justice.This government agency handles all Justice Department requests for surveillance authorizations under the terms of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, advises the Attorney...
.
The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
article on December 16, 2005 exposing the warrantless NSA surveillance
NSA warrantless surveillance controversy
The NSA warrantless surveillance controversy concerns surveillance of persons within the United States during the collection of foreign intelligence by the U.S. National Security Agency as part of the war on terror...
for the first time, was based on his initial tip-offs.
Over a year later in 2007 his house was raided by the FBI agents on suspicion of his involvement in leaking the details, but it wasn't until 2008 — online on the 13 December , and then in the December 22, 2008 issue of Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
— that his role was confirmed and he began speaking out publicly.
On April 26th, 2011, after a lengthy criminal investigation, the Justice Department announced that it would be dropping its investigation of Tamm and would not file charges.
See also
- List of whistleblowers
- Thomas Andrews DrakeThomas Andrews DrakeThomas Andrews Drake is a former senior official of the U.S. National Security Agency , decorated United States Air Force and United States Navy veteran, computer software expert, linguist, management and leadership specialist, and whistleblower. In 2010 the government alleged that he 'mishandled'...
- Russ TiceRuss TiceRussell D. Tice is a former intelligence analyst for the U.S. Air Force, Office of Naval Intelligence, Defense Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency...
- Hepting v. AT&THepting v. AT&THepting v. AT&T is a United States class action lawsuit filed in January 2006 by the Electronic Frontier Foundation against the telecommunications company AT&T, in which the EFF alleges that AT&T permitted and assisted the National Security Agency in unlawfully monitoring the communications of...
- Room 641ARoom 641ARoom 641A is an intercept facility operated by AT&T for the U.S. National Security Agency, beginning in 2003. Room 641A is located in the SBC Communications building at 611 Folsom Street, San Francisco, three floors of which were occupied by AT&T before SBC purchased AT&T...
External links
- Isikoff, Michael, "The Fed Who Blew the Whistle," NewsweekNewsweekNewsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
, December 13, 2008