TSA collected air passenger personal data despite Congressional ban News
TSA collected air passenger personal data despite Congressional ban

[JURIST] According to documents obtained by the Associated Press Monday, the Transportation Security Administration [official website] collected private information about commercial airline passengers who flew in June 2004, despite Congressional instructions not to do so. The documents indicate the information was gathered to test Secure Flight [official website], a passenger pre-screening program which, along with its predecessor CAPPS II [JURIST report], has been criticized for failing to protect private personal information. The documents will be published in the Federal Register [official website] this week. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emporer

On December 25, 800 A.D., Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome, Italy. During his lifetime, Charlemagne united most of Western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. He is credited with spreading the rule of law throughout his dominions as well as starting the French and German monarchies.

President Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederates

On December 25, 1868, President Andrew Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all who had been involved in "insurrection or rebellion" during the US Civil War.