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(Image source: Wikimedia Commons / Bjoertvedt)
BY SCOTT MALONE
A bad week in Washington continued for the Obama administration Thursday as the U.S.
Marshals Service admitted it lost track of two known or suspected terrorists who were
enrolled in the witness protection program.
An internal audit from the Department of Justice's Inspector General revealed several flaws,
including the fact the Marshals Service couldn't account for two known or suspected terrorists.
The other flaw: Those alleged terrorists could fly on commercial flights despite the fact
that they were on the TSA's no-fly list — thanks to new names and identities they received
from the program. (Via U.S. epartment of Justice)
So how did the department lose them in the first place? After giving the two new names
and identities, it did not provide those names to other national security offices. So when
the two went to travel, no red flags were raised. (Via WNYW)
That explains why the two could fly on commercial flights. But what were a pair of former or
suspected terrorists doing in the witness protection program to begin with?
Suspected terrorists are placed in the program for their testimony in criminal trials and
to gather information about possible terrorists or plots. (Via Fox News)
The department says former known or suspected terrorists make up less than 1 percent of
all participants. But according to CNN, this finding could be just the start of a disturbing
trend. (Via Businessweek)
"The witness security part of this program wasn't aware of how many people that they
were monitoring, so while they're saying there are two that they know they lost, they may
not know really who else is where and what's going on."
What the department does know is the two are now "accounted for," but at least one of them
is living outside the U.S. The department also says the two voluntarily left the program
years ago, but when asked why they left, officials said they would not comment.