Bakers asks AG for terrorism contract review

BY ELIZABETH SKRAPITS

Times-Shamrock Writer

State Sen. Lisa Baker is asking the office of state Attorney General Tom Corbett to determine if testimony about a controversial terrorism monitoring contract conflicts with newly revealed facts.

The state Senate cannot prosecute people for lying under oath. That’s why the Republican from Lehman Township said she is asking Corbett to “look at the whole record of the case, to determine if there are legal steps that may be necessary.”

In mid-September, news broke that the nonprofit Institute for Terrorism Research and Response had a no-bid contract to compile intelligence bulletins for Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency’s Department of Homeland Security.

They listed non-violent protests by law-abiding groups such as natural gas drilling opponents such as Virginia Cody of Factoryville, and anti-war activists alongside potential terrorist threats.

Hearings were held on Sept. 27 and Oct. 13 before the state Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, which Baker chairs. Those who testified included Homeland Security Director James F. Powers Jr. and ITRR President Michael Perelman.

“Although many questions have been answered, several more remain,” Baker wrote to Corbett. “There are now allegations that have surfaced speculating on various legal violations.”

Some testimony may have been in conflict with factual evidence, Baker alleges. She said discrepancies came to light through media coverage and “continuing reports of groups and individuals who were monitored merely for exercising basic rights.”

For example, it was asked under oath if any additional contracts with ITRR existed. Baker said the committee was told there were not – but new information shows another contract may exist.

Other questions are whether records were held for the legally required period of time or instead destroyed, and if individuals were targeted as well as groups. Under oath the answer was no, but later right-to-know requests show individuals’ Twitter accounts may have been monitored, Baker said.

She said the Senate review and hearings had positive results, including Gov. Ed Rendell canceling the $103,000 ITRR contract and Powers resigning. Also in the aftermath, the Kingston-based Gas Drilling Awareness Coalition – one of the organizations listed in the reports – filed a federal suit against the ITRR and the Department of Homeland Security, alleging violation of coalition members’ Constitutional rights.