North Carolina

New motions made in Lynndie England case

Lawyers for Pfc. Lynndie England moved Wednesday to throw out statements she made when first questioned about Iraqi prisoner abuse, including that reservists were just “joking around, having some fun.”

The motion was one of five taken up by military judge Col. Stephen Henley in a hearing in advance of England’s Jan. 18 court-martial on abuse charges at Baghdad’s Abu Ghraib prison.

Paul Arthur, an Army special investigator, testified that England was aware of her rights when she was interviewed.

Arthur testified that England was brought in for questioning — without a lawyer present — because investigators had obtained several pictures of her, including the shot of her holding a naked detainee by a leash.

Washington, D.C.

ACLU seeks FBI files on probes of activists

The American Civil Liberties Union is seeking information from the FBI on why bureau task forces set up to combat terrorism also looked into anti-war, animal rights and environmental groups.

Dozens of organizations have been subjected to scrutiny, according to the ACLU, which was filing Freedom of Information Act requests with the FBI on Thursday to try to find out why.

“We think it’s clear that the public is interested in the possible return of FBI spying on political and religious groups,” said Ann Beeson, the ACLU’s associate legal counsel.

The FBI denies singling out individuals or groups for surveillance or investigation based solely on activities protected by the Constitution’s guarantees of free speech.

Oklahoma

University bans alcohol at fraternities, dorms

Drinking will be banned at University of Oklahoma fraternities and residence halls under new policies announced Wednesday, two months after a 19-year-old student died of alcohol poisoning.

University of Oklahoma President David Boren said the rules would go into effect Jan. 18 at the start of the new semester.

Drinking is already prohibited at sororities.

Student Blake Hammontree died Sept. 30 after a Sigma Chi fraternity party. He had a blood-alcohol content more than five times the legal limit. The fraternity has since been shut down.

Washington, D.C.

Ex-CIA director criticizes new post

Former CIA Director George Tenet on Wednesday criticized proposals to create a national intelligence director, saying the position would lack authority unless the director also is in charge of “leading men and women every day and taking risks.”

Tenet, who left the CIA in July after seven years as director, offered his opinion to an audience of about 250 at a closed conference on homeland security and technology.

Tenet said efforts to restructure intelligence-gathering had overlooked a more pressing issue — how to get threat information to the state and local authorities.