communications 2 - The Latremie Post

DOJ tells California officials to back off ‘apparent criminal conspiracy’ to arrest ICE agents: ‘Stand down or face prosecution’

The Justice Department on Thursday warned California officials, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi, issuing a joint statement claiming that California law “prevents federal agents from taking certain actions.”

“While the President may enjoy absolute immunity courtesy of his rogue Supreme Court, those who operate under his orders do not,” the lawmakers wrote.

“Our state and local authorities may arrest federal agents if they break California law and if they are convicted, the President cannot pardon them.”

Pelosi’s office did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/24/us-news/doj-tells-california-officials-to-back-off-apparent-criminal-conspiracy-to-arrest-ice-agents/

Report warns reforms are fueling rise in Colorado violent crime

As part of efforts to lower its prison population, a recent report found that both incarceration rates and arrests in Colorado have declined sharply over the past decade. The state’s rate of recidivism—when a convicted criminal reoffends—has also decreased. However, this does not necessarily mean that crime is decreasing.

Instead, the report attributes these declines to a prioritization by lawmakers on leniency. This approach has largely led to reductions in recidivism, arrests, and the overall prison population.

“Over the past two decades, Colorado has pursued a steady course of criminal justice reform aimed at reducing the footprint of the state’s correctional system,” the report stated. “Lawmakers have prioritized leniency: lower sentences for drug offenses, expanded parole and probation opportunities, and restrictions on law enforcement discretion.”

This tension between enforcement and leniency is reflected in the state’s crime trends over the past decade. From 2014 to 2024, the number of arrests declined by nearly 30%. Similarly, Colorado’s recidivism rate fell by 40% between 2008 and 2019—ranking as the third-highest decline of any state nationwide.

“In 2008, Colorado had the country’s fifth highest recidivism rate,” said DJ Summers, the institute’s director of communications and research operations, during a press conference about the report on Tuesday. “Now the state’s recidivism has dropped to a more average rate.”

The decline in arrests has played a significant role in this progress. Between 2016 and 2024, the total number of inmates in Colorado’s prisons and jails decreased by 12%. This drop was largely due to a significant reduction in the prison population in 2020, when many inmates were released early amid public health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2020, the prison population has been slowly increasing again—though it remains below levels seen in the 2010s.

Despite these positive trends in incarceration and recidivism, the report warns that the overall picture is more complex. From 2014 to 2024, Colorado’s violent crime rate increased by more than 55%.

Looking more closely between December 2019 and December 2021, the report found that while the number of inmates in state prisons fell by over 20%, the violent crime rate rose nearly 25%.

“Arrest counts and violent crime have been shifting at inversely proportional rates, meaning that as arrests decrease, violent crime increases,” the report noted.

Summers added that Common Sense Institute conducted an analysis showing a “strong correlation” between decreases in arrests and prison population and increases in crime.

Furthermore, even with the decline in the recidivism rate, 31% of inmates released by the Colorado Department of Corrections still return to prison within three years.

The report argues that it is time to refocus the state’s priorities away from leniency and toward deterrence, accountability, and public safety.

“The state’s challenge is no longer to reduce its correctional footprint; it is to restore accountability and deterrence without abandoning compassion,” the report stated. “Colorado must find a middle ground between punitive excess and permissive neglect.”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3862533/report-warns-reforms-fuel-rise-colorado-violent-crime/

Signal President Spars With Elon Musk Over Trust in Private Messengers

On Monday, a major outage at Amazon Web Services disrupted a large number of websites and apps, including the end-to-end encrypted messenger Signal. In response, X Executive Chairman and Chief Technical Officer Elon Musk declared that he no longer trusts Signal. “I don’t trust Signal anymore,” Musk stated plainly.

Signal President Meredith Whittaker responded to Musk’s post on X, emphasizing the app’s reputation: “Signal is trusted by the security and hacker community, and hundreds of millions of others, BECAUSE they can examine it, and because on examination, it has shown to be robust, private, and secure—for over a decade.”

### Musk’s Promotion of X Chat

In recent months, Musk has been promoting the use of X Chat as a secure, encrypted communication method between users. However, security experts argue that any encrypted messaging app should be open source to be truly trusted with secure communications. After all, how can users be sure what the app is doing if they cannot review the code themselves?

X labels X Chat—intended to eventually replace the traditional direct messaging system—as beta software on their platform. While there were reports in 2018 that X (then known as Twitter) was testing end-to-end encryption, the feature did not receive an official support announcement until 2023. The company has also stated plans to make it easier for users to verify the safety and security of their chat features.

Jack Dorsey, co-founder of X (originally Twitter) and former CEO, was supportive of moving towards end-to-end encryption during his tenure. More recently, Dorsey developed a geographically-focused messaging app called Bitchat over a weekend. Bitchat gained attention during the recent overthrow of the Nepalese government because of its mesh networking features, which allow it to function locally without internet access. An app with similar capabilities, FireChat, was used during the Hong Kong protests as early as 2014.

### Signal Is Not Perfect Either

Of course, Signal itself is not without flaws and has faced criticism over the years. One common concern raised by security researchers was Signal’s reliance on phone numbers, which many viewed as a privacy risk. The app has recently addressed this issue by allowing users to sign up with just a username.

Notably, Whittaker’s comments about Signal’s openness and verifiability faced pushback from multiple developers in the Bitcoin community. Peter Todd, known for contributing to Bitcoin Core and for being suggested as the alleged Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto in a recent HBO documentary, pointed out that app stores on Android and iOS hinder users’ ability to confirm that the open-source code published by Signal matches the app installed on their devices.

Todd’s work with Bitcoin Core emphasizes reproducible builds, a process that allows end users to verify that the software they run is built from the exact open-source code released to the public. Similarly, Steve Lee, who leads Bitcoin open-source development grant provider Spiral, highlighted an open issue related to reproducible builds for Signal on Android.

Bitcoin purists also criticize Signal for relying on centralized infrastructure, which contributed to the AWS-related downtime experienced recently. This reliance is seen as a drawback compared to decentralized networks like Bitcoin.

### Striking a Balance

Whether discussing Bitcoin or private messaging, there are often trade-offs between achieving perfect privacy and security versus creating a user-friendly app that people will actually use. Signal remains the gold standard for encrypted messaging, but encouraging more competition in this space is beneficial—so long as such alternatives offer privacy that is truly verifiable and trustworthy.
https://gizmodo.com/signal-president-spars-with-elon-musk-over-trust-in-private-messengers-2000674571

Fmr Nat’l Security Advisor John Bolton indicted on 18 counts, accused of mishandling and sharing classified docs

OAN Staff Blake Wolf, Brooke Mallory and Sophia Flores UPDATE: 2: 05 PM Thursday, October 16, 2025: Former National Security Advisor John Bolton has been indicted on 18 counts of illegally hoarding or sending sensitive national security information by a federal grand jury. The indictment in a Greenbelt, Maryland federal court, alleges that Bolton knowingly transmitted materials related to foreign policy matters after President Trump fired Bolton from the White House in 2019. These sensitive national security documents were shared through a personal email. If found guilty, Bolton faces up to 10 years behind bars on each count of the indictment. 12: 56 PM Wednesday, October 15, 2025: Former National Security Advisor John Bolton is expected to face a federal indictment after being accused of mishandling and transmitting classified government documents using his private AOL email account. While he has not been formally charged, multiple sources suggest that a grand jury in Maryland is expected to issue an indictment soon. The development follows FBI raids on Bolton’s Maryland home and Washington, D. C., office, where agents seized documents labeled “classified,” “confidential,” and “secret” including materials related to weapons of mass destruction and strategic communications. The indictment is anticipated to detail Bolton’s mishandling of classified information during his time as President Donald Trump’s national security advisor, stemming from Trump’s first administration. Bolton allegedly used his personal AOL email account to share and store classified information through daily notes and summaries of his White House activities from 2018 to 2019. These documents reportedly contained sensitive national security details, prompting federal authorities to raid his Bethesda, Maryland, home in August 2025 seeking the “highly sensitive national security” information. The indictment is expected to hit as soon as Wednesday or Thursday. One Justice Department official told the New York Post that the case against Bolton is “airtight.” During the recent raid, FBI agents were able to remove a white binder from Bolton’s home labeled “statement and reflections to allied strikes,” which included folders labeled “Trump I-IV.” The FBI was also able to remove four boxes labeled “printed daily activities,” in addition to “two iPhones, four computers and hard drives, and two USB drives,” according to a Department of Justice filing. The probe into Bolton’s alleged mishandling of classified documents was first introduced in 2020 through a “very specific intelligence capacity,” which exposed Bolton’s decision to allegedly transfer classified documents to his home before Trump fired him in 2019. However, the probe was ultimately dismissed under the prior Biden administration due to “political reasons,” officials at the time stated, although it has since been reopened under FBI Director Kash Patel. Bolton has been a vocal critic of President Trump’s foreign policy following his departure from the administration. Bolton’s tenure under Trump was also marked by significant policy disagreements, particularly regarding approaches to Iran, North Korea, and Afghanistan. These differences led to Bolton’s dismissal in September 2019 with Trump citing “strong disagreements” over foreign policy as the primary reason. His conduct has also attracted bipartisan scrutiny for aggressive tactics, hawkish policies, and potential legal infractions, spanning his tenures in the Bush and Trump administrations, his published works, and current investigations. Notably, as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control, Bolton pressured intelligence analysts to exaggerate evidence of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) to justify the U. S. invasion. He targeted analysts like Christian Westerman, who disputed the claims. Stay informed! Receive breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. What do YOU think? Click here to jump to the comments! Sponsored Content Below Share this post!.
https://www.oann.com/newsroom/fmr-natl-security-advisor-john-bolton-indicted-on-18-counts-accused-of-mishandling-and-sharing-classified-docs/

Bombay HC blocks Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra’s international travel amid Rs 60 crores fraud case

**Bombay High Court Blocks Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra’s International Travel Amid Rs 60 Crores Fraud Case**

In a significant development in the ongoing Rs 60 crores fraud case involving Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband, businessman Raj Kundra, the Bombay High Court has raised serious questions about their request to travel abroad.

The couple had approached the court seeking permission to travel to Colombo and other destinations for a business trip. However, the court, led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad, expressed scepticism over the nature of the trip.

Their counsel, Niranjan Mundargi, was directed to submit an affidavit detailing the purpose of the trip. This affidavit must include formal communications and evidence supporting the claim that it was indeed for business purposes. The court granted time until October 14 for the submission of these details.

During the proceedings, when Mundargi reiterated that the trip was for business, Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar remarked with a smile, “You can first deposit Rs 60 crores if you wish to travel abroad.” This comment underscores the court’s serious approach to the case and its scrutiny of the couple’s actions.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police is investigating the case, which alleges that Shetty and Kundra diverted investment funds for personal use. In light of the ongoing investigation, the court has not issued any immediate orders regarding the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against them. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on October 14.

This development adds to the mounting legal challenges faced by the couple, who are under intense scrutiny over their financial dealings. As the investigation progresses, the court’s forthcoming decisions will be crucial in determining the future course of action.

**Related Investigation Involving Businessman Deepak Kothari**

In a related matter, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police is investigating a case involving businessman Deepak Kothari. Kothari has accused Shetty and Kundra of diverting Rs 60 crores of his investment for personal use.

The EOW has found that Kothari’s funds were misused and has filed a case against Shetty, Kundra, and an unidentified associate under sections 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 406 (criminal breach of trust), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

**Also Read:**
Shilpa Shetty questioned for 4.5 hours by Mumbai Police in Rs 60 crores fraud case: Reports

Stay tuned for more Bollywood news live updates.
https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/bombay-hc-blocks-shilpa-shetty-raj-kundras-international-travel-amid-rs-60-crores-fraud-case/