Letitia James Strikes Again

For John, BLUF:  One cannot deny that New York Attorney General Letitia James is out there slugging away at Donald Trump and his attempt to be a President for all Americans.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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US judge temporarily blocks Musk's DOGE from accessing payment systems

From Reuters, by Reporter Nate Raymond, 8 February 2025, 7:50 AM EST.

Here is the lede plus four:

A federal judge early Saturday temporarily blocked billionaire Elon Musk's government efficiency team and Trump administration political appointees from accessing government systems used to process trillions of dollars in payments, citing a risk that sensitive information could be improperly disclosed.

U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer in Manhattan issued the order after a coalition of 19 mostly Democratic-led U.S. states filed a lawsuit late Friday arguing Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has no legal power to access the U.S. Department of Treasury systems.

The lawsuit said Musk and his team could disrupt federal funding for health clinics, preschools, climate initiatives, and other programs, and that Republican President Donald Trump could use the information to further his political agenda.

DOGE's access to the system also "poses huge cybersecurity risks that put vast amounts of funding for the States and their residents in peril," the state attorneys general said. They sought a temporary restraining order blocking DOGE's access.

. . .

New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat whose office is leading the case, welcomed the ruling, saying nobody was above the law and that Americans across the country had been horrified by the DOGE team's unfettered access to their data.

I am of two minds about this.

On the one hand, she might be dilusional about what is happening in these United States.  Her assertion that "Americans across the country had been horrified by the DOGE team's unfettered access to their data", may represent some small portion of the popultion, but I am doubtful it is a widespread feeling.  A lot of folks voted for Donald J Trump and JD Vance (and Elon Musk and Big Balls).  And a lot of us are dubious that our data on Federal Computers is safe from hacking by China, North Korea or other computer hackers.  Or from leaking by Civil Servants.

On the other hand, it could be that New York Attorney General Letitia James is getting money on the side from graft that could be exposed by the actions of DOGE.  I would like to think that such is not the case.  I would like to think that my tax money is not being spread amonst a corrupt group of politicians and non-governmental agency members.  Early reports suggest I will be disappointed.

To reference Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman and his statement that the Democratic Party is a "'toxic' brand built on years of 'shaming and scolding' voters," this is what General James sounds like.  Frankly, it is not a good look.

Hat tip to the Citizen Free Press.

Regards  —  Cliff