The Daily ‘I’m Part of Something That’s Really Evil’
Sep 9, 2021
In this discussion, Terry Albury, a former FBI special agent, shares his transformation from counterterrorism enforcer to whistleblower, revealing the ethical dilemmas he faced. Janet Reitman, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, probes into Albury's disillusionment post-9/11, focusing on the FBI’s controversial tactics against Muslim communities. They examine the moral complexities of national security versus social justice, highlighting the impact of aggressive surveillance, systemic biases, and the chilling effects of leaking classified information.
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First Encounter
- Janet Reitman interviewed Terry Albury five days before his imprisonment.
- Their initial five-hour conversation in Reitman's Berkeley hotel room was the first of many.
Albury's Upbringing
- Terry Albury grew up in a progressive Berkeley environment, exposed to social justice movements.
- His mother was an Ethiopian political refugee, and his uncle was a Black Panther leader.
Joining the FBI
- Albury joined the FBI in 2001, drawn by their work against child exploitation.
- 9/11 shifted the FBI's focus to counterterrorism, changing Albury's role.