Tag

Vetting

All articles tagged with #vetting

world1 month ago•4 min saved

U.S. Blocks Somali World Cup Referee Entry Over Vetting Concerns

U.S. Customs and Border Protection barred Somali FIFA World Cup referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan from entering the United States due to vetting concerns; he arrived in Miami from Istanbul and was deemed inadmissible, with FIFA confirming he cannot train or officiate at the tournament, while noting host-country immigration decisions are separate from FIFA adjudications. Somalia condemned the decision, and Artan is a respected referee; the World Cup is being hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada amid heightened security and stricter immigration enforcement.

via CBS News|

#fifa-world-cup #immigration #somalia

politics1 month ago•8 min saved

Trump taps Bill Pulte for DNI without prior security clearance, prompting concerns

Bill Pulte, Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. intelligence community as acting DNI, reportedly did not have any security clearance before his appointment, and a background check has begun; lawmakers from both parties warn that granting him access to classified information without thorough vetting risks sensitive secrets and could complicate intelligence-sharing.

via CNN|

#bill-pulte #dni #intelligence-community

politics1 month ago•5 min saved

Mandelson files fuel leadership turmoil as vetting questions linger

More than 1,500 pages on Peter Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the US show a rushed security vetting process, lingering questions about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, and criticism of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s judgment. Mandelson was fired after nine months amid the Epstein fallout; officials suggest Epstein ties were not cited as the reason for failing vetting, but the full vetting summary and any mitigation steps remain unclear while a police investigation into Mandelson continues.

via NBC News|

#epstein #mandelson #politics

politics1 month ago•17 min saved

Mandelson file dump exposes 1,000+ pages of private government talks over US ambassador role

The government released three volumes totaling over 1,000 pages of WhatsApp messages, emails and other documents about Lord Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s ambassador to the US, revealing internal discussions and embarrassing exchanges while framing the dump as unprecedented government transparency; the vetting file is not included due to a police investigation, with some material redacted or withheld for security reasons.

via BBC|

#government-transparency #mandelson #politics

uk-news1 month ago•28 min saved

Royal memo reveals Queen backed Andrew as trade envoy; no vetting found

New government files released in response to a Liberal Democrat humble address show Queen Elizabeth II was keen for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to take the trade envoy role in 2001, that he preferred 'sophisticated' countries, and that officials found no evidence of a formal vetting process; the documents also outline his tenure and later controversies, with Andrew stepping down in 2011.

via BBC|

#andrew-mountbatten-windsor #queen-elizabeth-ii #royal-family

politics1 month ago•4 min saved

UK Admits No Formal Vetting for Prince Andrew Trade Envoy Role

Britain acknowledged there was no formal due diligence before appointing Prince Andrew as a trade envoy in 2021, with documents indicating ministerial approval and a Royal Family emphasis on trade; the 17-page dossier is partially redacted and describes his preferred activities, while his royal status later faced revocation amid Epstein-related scrutiny.

via politico.eu|

#buckingham-palace #government-documents #politics

politics2 months ago•5 min saved

Pressure mounts on Starmer over Mandelson's U.S. envoy appointment

Former foreign ministry official Olly Robbins testifies that Starmer's office pressured officials to fast-track Peter Mandelson's appointment as Britain’s ambassador to the United States, intensifying a months-long row over the choice. Starmer says he blamed officials for not flagging vetting concerns, while Robbins describes constant pressure and Downing Street involvement, raising new questions ahead of local elections.

via Reuters|

#mandelson #olly-robbins #politics

politics2 months ago•2 min saved

Mandelson Vetting Row Deepens Starmer's Political Quandary

The Guardian revealed that Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting for a US ambassador post, but the Foreign Office overruled the decision to proceed. Prime Minister Starmer says he was unaware of the vetting concerns, while opposition papers accuse him of misleading Parliament, sparking a fresh front-page crisis and renewed calls for accountability.

via The Guardian|

#mandelson #politics #security-clearance

politics2 months ago•5 min saved

Starmer calls Mandelson vetting oversight a staggering lapse

Prime Minister Keir Starmer says it is staggering that he and other ministers were not told that Lord Mandelson failed initial security vetting for his US ambassador post, after a vetting 'no' was overruled by the Foreign Office; the revelation has prompted calls for his resignation, with Olly Robbins's sacking heightening scrutiny of Downing Street's handling of the affair.

via BBC|

#government-scandal #mandelson #politics

world4 months ago•18 min saved

Epstein Ties Undermined Mandelson Appointment as U.S. Ambassador, Files Reveal

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was warned in 2024 that appointing Peter Mandelson—linked to Jeffrey Epstein—as ambassador to the United States posed a general reputational risk, with vetting documents noting a long, close relationship and even Mandelson staying at Epstein’s home. The affair deepened after Mandelson was fired in 2025 amid the controversy, as U.S. and U.K. investigations continued and authorities redacted documents pending legal or security concerns. Starmer apologized for the decision and called for ethics reforms as more files are released.

via The New York Times|

#ambassador #epstein #mandelson

politics4 months ago•25 min saved

Mandelson sought £547,201 payout after US ambassadorship amid Epstein links, files reveal

New government files show Peter Mandelson sought a £547,201 payout after being sacked as UK ambassador to the US, with the Treasury later agreeing a £75,000 settlement (including £40,329.50 pay in lieu and £34,670.50 severance); the release flags Epstein ties as a reputational risk during vetting and notes Mandelson answered questions about the relationship.

via BBC|

#epstein #mandelson #politics

politics5 months ago•2 min saved

Reform UK's candidate vetting branded brutal and intrusive by councillor

Reform UK says it is vetting Welsh Senedd candidates with social-media checks and background reviews, a process described as brutal and intrusive by a party councillor. The party has scrutinized decades of online history, leading to the exclusion of some potentially good candidates for past posts, including a pattern seen in 2024 when 12 Reform candidates were dropped after their past comments. No Welsh leadership or list of candidates has been officially announced yet, and rumours about leadership are not official.

via BBC|

#politics #reform-uk #social-media

politics5 months ago•312 min saved

Walz Faces Foreign-Ties Question in Harris Vetting, CNN Reports

Four CNN sources say Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was asked by Kamala Harris’s vetting team whether he had ever been an agent of a foreign government—prompts cited China's influence as Walz had traveled there before his political career—mirroring a similar line of questioning that led Dana Remus to ask Josh Shapiro if he had ever been an agent for Israel. Shapiro called that inquiry offensive and linked it to concerns about antisemitism; aides describe vetting as a standard but sometimes expanded process, and Harris allies disclosed Walz’s questioning to help explain the rushed vetting as she moved to join the ticket.

via CNN|

#foreign-agent #kamala-harris #politics

politics5 months ago•313 min saved

Shapiro memoir reveals controversial Israel question in Harris vetting

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro writes in a forthcoming memoir that Kamala Harris’s vice-presidential vetting team asked him whether he had ever been an agent of the Israeli government, a question he says was offensive; Dana Remus reportedly pressed him on undercover Israeli contact amid broader debates over Israel and antisemitism in the 2024 vetting process, a moment that strained Biden-Harris circles and drew commentary from antisemitism advocates.

via CNN|

#antisemitism #israel #politics

politics5 months ago•6 min saved

Shapiro Memoir Reveals Israel-Driven Vetting in Harris VP Run

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recounts in his memoir how Kamala Harris’s team grilled him over his views on Israel—went so far as to ask if he’d ever been an undercover Israeli agent. He found the line of questioning offensive but says it reflected the vigor of the vetting process. He ultimately withdrew from consideration after a final meeting with Harris, who chose Tim Walz for the ticket. The memoir, Where We Keep the Light, also weaves in faith, family, and recent political events, with release set for Jan. 27.

via The New York Times|

#israel #josh-shapiro #kamala-harris