FBI Looking for Informants to Infiltrate Vegan Potlucks
May 15th, 2008 by Will Potter
Eric McDavid was just sentenced to 20 years in prison, as a “terrorist,” in a case that would never have been possible without a “confidential source” known only as Anna. She was paid by the FBI. She provided the group with bomb-making recipes; at times financed their transportation, food and housing; strung along McDavid, who had the hopes of a romantic relationship; and poked and prodded the group into action. In a rare declaration to the court, a former juror called the FBI an “embarrassment.”
Well, that former juror isn’t alone in her assessment of how the FBI plays fast and loose with the law in hopes of landing convictions. A 2005 analysis by the inspector general of the Justice Department, looking at 120 cases, found that FBI agents regularly ignore regulations for handling informants. The inspector general, Glenn A. Fine, found that:
FBI agents violated procedures in 87 percent of the cases, including some in which informants allegedly engaged in illegal activity without proper oversight or permission…
The inspector general also faulted the FBI for “consistently failing to obtain advance approval to listen in on informants’ conversations.”
The FBI attributed many mistakes to “complicated paperwork requirements,” and says the administrative errors have been corrected.
As we saw in the McDavid case, though, there’s much more going on at the FBI than paperwork problems. The use of Anna, a provocateur, wasn’t a clerical error. It was part of a deliberate, calculated, and coordinated effort to infiltrate activist groups and land “terrorism” convictions, even if it means breaking the rules and provoking criminal activity.
But now that Anna, the “eco-terrorism” informant, has had a profile in Elle, and says that she might be burned out, the feds might have a problem. Informants are “critical to the FBI’s ability to carry out our counterterrorism, national security and criminal law enforcement missions,” a top official said. And it looks like the FBI needs some new blood.
I got word from the Twin Cities Eco-Prisoner Support Committee that a local activist was approached by the Joint Terrorism Task Force and asked to become a paid informant. Here’s more from the activist about the encounter:
“Then for twenty minutes they flatter me about how my personality and appearance are perfect matches for what is required in some espionage dealio. They wanted me to crash vegan potluck parties and get into the inner circle of terrorists because supposedly terrorists are trusting and I’m “trustable, easy going, funny,” and a bunch of other flattery. Every time they said “vegan potluck” I chuckled, but their faces showed they weren’t kidding. They said “vegan potluck” half a dozen times. They really feared vegans and their violent conspiracies to blow up buildings in protest to the republican national convention.
So after twenty minutes of bewildering suckups, they ask me if I’m in. They say there’s compensation if I assist in someone’s arrest. I say “ummmmmmm I’ll pass.” She says, “That was the fastest anyone has ever rejected me,” and then tried for ten more minutes to get me to change my mind before saying, “Really: think about it. We could really use you.”
I wonder if this is what the FBI means when they say, “By working in domestic terrorism investigations, you get to see the First Amendment in action.”
But who am I kidding, forget the First Amendment. Getting paid to infiltrate vegan potlucks? That sounds like the best job ever! Of course, it might be hard to stomach the free food knowing that it’s wasting valuable anti-terrorism resources on harassing social justice groups, and that you’re violating people’s privacy and trust for a few bucks.
But if you find it hard to swallow that spying on vegan potlucks is part of the “number one domestic terrorism threat,” just remember folks like Anthony Bourdain who say vegetarians are “terrorist scum.” Just take a look at soft-core eco-terrorist propaganda like Hoot. And then perhaps you’ll become a true believer, convinced that this “War on Terrorism” is a culture war. After all, you must understand that tofu makes you gay.
I’m not one to judge. This is a tough call. I wish you all the best of luck in weighing Constitutional concerns against getting paid to eat TVP chili and, if you’re lucky, some chocolate-chocolate cupcakes with sprinkles.
If the FBI comes knocking on your door about potlucks and protests, call the National Lawyers’ Guild “Green Scare” Hotline, 888-NLG-ECOLAW, and let us know at GreenIsTheNewRed.com.
[...] hopeful that the FBI had become any less silly than it was in J. Edgar Hoover’s day, well, sorry to rain on your parade and/or vegan potluck: But who am I kidding, forget the First Amendment. Getting paid to infiltrate vegan potlucks? That [...]
[...] so The Powers That Be must have taken note! Will Potter at Green Is The New Red reports that the FBI is trying to infiltrate that well-known stronghold of dangerous terrorist activity – vegan [...]
[...] Apparently the FBI is currently looking for paid informants to infiltrate that hot bed of political action… the vegan potluck! This actually sounds like a dream job, except for the whole “only getting paid upon someone’s arrest” thing. (But I’m wondering how the freaking feds are finding these potlucks when I’m stuck home, cupcake-less.) [...]
[...] 3. Infiltrate a vegan potluck. [...]
I just wanted to thank you for your blog and all that you write. I would seriously not hear about any of these important issues had it not been for your blog. Thanks again and keep up the great writing!
FBI – Funny Bunch of Idiots
Charlotte’s web ….. yup, animal rights propaganda all right – Killing animals for “food” is not necessary….. actually, it’s not all that good for you, the planet and of course the animals. Once this is known, the billion dollar meat industries will crumble. They have a lot at stake and will conceal/warp truths to any end to avoid this inevitable event. They sound paranoid to me -maybe they should be…..
“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet. ” Albert Einstein
For health & heart…. Go Vegan!
[...] FBI Looking for Informants to Infiltrate Vegan Potlucks [...]
Thanks very much, Shannon!
Talk about disturbing- This government often scared me more than the things they’re trying to “protect” us from!
I see that you’ve used my picture up there. I have no problem with that, but I would really appreciate credit of some sort. Thanks!
Hi Hannah. Sorry about that! WordPress is giving me trouble with this caption plugin I installed. I’m fixing the rollover now, and fixing the image link to your site as well. Thanks for understanding. Will
down with this rotten ass system!!!
[...] FBI And their cupcake informants at Green Is The New Red [...]
I remember when reading about the McLibel case from the 90s about a spy pretending to be some guy’s girlfriend. Fast forward to today. Having the FBI get you laid? Cooking vegan food for you? Hasn’t happened to me yet. I must be volunteering for the wrong groups.
[...] came out so well that I decided to share the recipe with you. In honor of the FBI’s quest to infiltrate the infamous vegan potluck, I call this [...]
Damn, any excuse to bust out the vegan cupcakes. Have you no shame?
“Jersey Fresh”: Would you expect anything else? It’s like you don’t even know me anymore.
[...] will try to label us “terrorists”. ALF and ELF are only the beginning: anyone who attends a vegan potluck, runs a successful website, or donates their time or money to the SPCA is a terrorist in their [...]
[...] to spy on the Coalition of Immokolee Workers. 2. The FBI tried to hire informants to infiltrate Vegan Potlucks to find out about anti-RNC activities in August. 3. Corporations Tracking Who Activists are Dating. [...]
makes me sick, this is really starting to feel like 1984, we need a revolution violent if need be, Death to Tyrants
we need to assemble nationally and destroy all police stations, national guard outposts, court houses, etc… doesnt anyone remember 1776? wheres all the true patriots.
[...] to spy on the Coalition of Immokolee Workers. 2. The FBI tried to hire informants to infiltrate Vegan Potlucks to find out about anti-RNC activities in August. 3. Corporations Tracking Who Activists are Dating. [...]
[...] uses of food in anarchist actions. So, the next time you’re planning one of those subversive vegan potlucks, give a nod to the street-fighting Swiss — never thought you’d see that phrase, did [...]
[...] aren’t afraid. Despite the “eco-terrorism” rhetoric, despite the FBI attempting to infiltrate vegan potlucks, despite Joint Terrorism Task Forces arresting activists for wearing masks, and on and on and on, [...]
It sounds silly, but it’s not impractical that a chosen stage for immersion would be a dining experience, where strangers often meet.
that food sure look good.
[...] her wedding cupcake post that lead to an article on “Green is the New Red” site — “FBI Looking for Informants to Infiltrate Vegan Potlucks”. Bourdain is mentioned in the article, so I won’t try to find some other excuse for posting [...]
[...] will try to label us “terrorists”. ALF and ELF are only the beginning: anyone who attends a vegan potluck, runs a successful website, or donates their time or money to the SPCA is a terrorist in their [...]
[...] Welcome to the dark green side, Sara. Just be careful who you extend your vegan potluck invites [...]
[...] FBI has gone so far as to send undercover spies to events as innocent as vegan potlucks. This scares me, because I’m not one to risk attending protests and things that might [...]
[...] While Al-Qaeda continues to release video communiques threatening Americans, the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Forces are using anti-terrorism resources to attempt to infiltrate vegan potlucks. [...]
[...] While Al-Qaeda continues to release video communiques threatening Americans, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces are using anti-terrorism resources to attempt to infiltrate vegan potlucks. [...]
[...] exploiting animals. Indeed, veganism has become fertile ground for law enforcement, with FBI agents infiltrating vegan potlucks in the hope of catching terrorists between recipe-swapping and courses of seitan and dairy-free ice [...]
I think the FBI just wants our food.
Wow what a load of self-pardoning bullshit spin. Reading this article, you’d never imagine people like Rodney Coronado and the thugs at the A.L.F. run around starting fires, assaulting people, harassing people in their homes and so forth.
Oh, but they’re “social justice groups”, and there’s a huge difference, I guess, between “violating people’s privacy” and say, sending people to tresspass on public schools wearing ridiculous animal costumes and handing out propaganda.
Uh huh.
“She provided the group with bomb-making recipes; at times financed their transportation, food and housing; strung along McDavid, who had the hopes of a romantic relationship; and poked and prodded the group into action.”
Gee, your propagandic spin makes it sound like these so-called “activists” were doing nothing but sitting around on their asses until the FBI plant came along and FORCED them to engage in these violent crimes and tendencies prevalent in so many such groups. Hell, “poked and prodded the group into action” makes it sound like these people were almost apathetic to their own cause before the plant came along and coerced them into their own beliefs.
Imagine, if you will, a mafia mobster who gets arrested by an undercover agent and then proclaims to the court; “But your honor! *I* didn’t participate in drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, prostitution and assasination! It was the undercover informant! He MADE me do it!”
Farewell to privacy…
Say goodbye to privacy, any privacy ever again. A James Bond fan at the Associated Press gushes, “If only we could be flies on the wall when our enemies are plotting to attack us. Better yet, what if that fly could record voices, transmit video and e…
[...] all know that we may be under observation at protests. In terms of the accounts of feds infiltrating vegan potlucks, the significance eluded me. While I don’t believe there is too much sensitive animal [...]
I’ve been following the Eric McDavid case for a while. A friend of mine is actually the girlfriend of his girlfriend (or some such configuration, you never know with these poly- types) and her band did a benefit tour for him recently.
I must say, though, if the FBI ever came asking me to be an informant I’d do it just to give them all sorts of crazy misinformation and have them searching in all the wrong places and I’d never have to worry about slipping up and saying the wrong thing around the wrong person because I’d be that wrong person! I’d absolutely relish wasting their time and money! I’d even tell all my friends!
Then again… now that I think of it, it’s still a little creepy to think of myself working for the government… so maybe not, even if it does mean that I get to fuck with them.
[...] This has got to be the best, most hilarious, and most revealing entry on GreenIsTheNewRed.com, a blog documenting the green scare in America. Most of you have probably heard that animal rights and environmental activists are the biggest domestic terrorist threat in the country, which I guess I believe with all of the shenaningans the ALF and ELF pull, but really? Vegan potlucks? What’s worse is that the FBI’s informant “provided the group with bomb-making recipes; at times financed their transportation… and poked and prodded the group into action.” How is that even legal? I understand that the “terrorists” should be held responsible for using the informant’s resources (the article doesn’t really go into what they actually did for one of the potluck attendees to get sentenced to 20 years in prison), but there must be some sort of government accountability issue here. This seems more than a little unethical. [...]
NHothing changes for the better. Informants squeeze everywhere. We saw them at their repugnant work at Cointelpro, infiltrating the A.I.M. and MeCHA before slithering in the Ecologist, the ELF, ALF , the Bahai and other movements . We must remain aware that newcomers who seem the most eager, the most vocal, the most committed are often very committed indeed : to destroy us .