Pa. Homeland Security Director quits

    The head of Pennsylvania’s Office of Homeland Security office has stepped down, days after he defended the department’s controversial intelligence reports before a state Senate hearing.

    The head of Pennsylvania’s Office of Homeland Security office has stepped down, days after he defended the department’s controversial intelligence reports before a state Senate hearing.

    Governor Rendell had dismissed the intelligence documents as useless, after the bulletins listing information about political rallies and protests became public.
    When Director James Powers appeared before the Senate Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee, he said the  reports had provided a valuable service for local governments.
    Now, Powers has submitted his resignation, which Rendell says he’s accepted.

    “Jim is a good man who made a very significant mistake in judgment. And he has decided that the operation of his department is too important for his own personal desire to stay in the way of it.”

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    Rendell says he didn’t ask Powers to step down. His last day on the job will be October 8th.

    The public outcry was fast and furious, after news broke Powers’ office had been distributing information about protests to private companies and local law enforcement.

    Rendell has canceled a state contract with the private security firm who gathered the data.

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