Report: FBI’s focus on fighting terrorism has left fewer agents to fight white collar crime

[maddezmom]

Report: FBI’s focus on fighting terrorism has left fewer agents to fight white collar crime
By Associated Press
Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - Updated: 06:53 AM EST

SEATTLE - The Bush administration’s refocusing of the FBI in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks has left far fewer agents to target certain white-collar crime cases the bureau has traditionally pursued, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported Wednesday.

More than five years after the attacks, the Justice Department has failed to replace at least 2,400 agents who were detailed to focus on counterterrorism, the newspapers said.

The switch has led to thousands of white-collar criminals nationwide who are no longer prosecuted in federal court, frustrated victims and potentially billions of dollars, the newspaper said.



”Politically, this trade-off has been accepted,” said Charles Mandigo, who retired four years ago as special agent in charge in Seattle. ”But do the American people know this trade-off has been made?”


more:http://news.bostonherald.com/national/view.bg?articleid=194110

[rfranklin]

1. They have been sent on a fool''s errand...

The actual convictions on "terrorism" cases have been virtually non-existent.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Please, please people. Kick this one to the Greatest.

If only. IF ONLY there were citizen groups that could organize investigations of white collar crime in the neighborhood. We'll even have retired ACLU members on staff to make sure we didn't go too far with the investigations. Hell, just based on public record alone you could come up with prosecutions, it's that bad.

[wakeme2008]

3. kick and nom nt

[Demeter]

4. Dick and Cheney's Excellent Diversion!

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. I'm sure it has the approval of many a Republican "entrepreneur."

[Laughing Mirror]

5. Why would they want to go after criminals in white collars?

Hell, they nabbed a few white collar guys from Enron. Shouldn't that be enough? Forget about criminals in white collars. Much better for American society for us to go after exotic people with dark skins, put a bag over their heads, throw them forever in secret prisons and call them terrorists. Terrorists, any white collar person knows, are far far worse than your everyday garden variety white collar criminal.

[Demeter]

7. One Doesn't Go After One's Constituency With the FBI, After All

Fundraisers, pollsters, paid escorts, but not the law!

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. Mission accomplished

If there are not enough agents to investigate white collar crime, you can bet the farm they don't have enough agents to investigate White House crimes.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. They do seem interconnected, don't they?

[Solly Mack]

10. How convenient

Corporations making millions on top of millions in the war on terror...missing money everywhere...and this...

[Amonester]

11. Kick

There is no low to where they didn't, don't, and won't, go.

[yurbud]

12. this would be true during Bush years even without Gwot--:we should start spelling it like that so

people will say it like Newt and be reminded of him:

"What does Newt think we should do about Gwot?"