Surprise! Controversial Patriot Act power now overwhelmingly used in drug investigations

[Logical]

One of the more controversial provisions of the Patriot Act was to broaden the “sneak-and-peek” power for federal law enforcement officials. The provision allows investigators to conduct searches without informing the target of the search. We were assured at the time that this was an essential law enforcement tool that would be used only to protect the country from terrorism. Supporters argued that it was critical that investigators be allowed to look into the lives and finances of suspected terrorists without tipping off those terrorists to the fact that they were under investigation.

Civil libertarian critics warned that the federal government already had this power for national security investigations. The Patriot Act provision was far too broad and would almost certainly become a common tactic in cases that have nothing to do with national security.

But this was all immediately after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and there was little patience for civil libertarians. The massive Patriot Act of course passed overwhelmingly, including the sneak-and-peek provision, despite the fact that only a handful of members of Congress had actually read it. (Not to mention the public.)

<snip>

Is anyone shocked by this??????

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2014/10/29/surprise-controversial-patriot-act-power-now-overwhelmingly-used-in-drug-investigations/

[Eleanors38]

1. Surprised? Only that NATSEC laws are used on drug arrests...

...and not the other way around. Usually, the cutting edge if anti-Constitutional practices are distilled from the cow pies of da WOD.

[woo me with science]

2. Government Authority Intended for Terrorism is Used for Other Purposes

Government Authority Intended for Terrorism is Used for Other Purposes
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025721614

Drug arrests are needed to keep the lucrative private prisons full. Even if it means spying on Americans and constructing false chains of evidence to arrest them.

Fascism has come to America.

[Logical]

3. So true. nt

[Comrade Grumpy]

4. Who could have imagined?