FBI abuses are intolerable

[babylonsister]

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2007/03/17/opinion/editorials/doc45fb91003df43791319396.txt

FBI abuses are intolerable

snip//

A much bigger issue that is being overshadowed in this fury surrounding Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and others in the administration is the FBI’s blatant disregard of laws regarding individuals’ personal records.

In a U.S. Justice Department audit released last week, it was revealed that the FBI improperly and, in some cases, illegally used the Patriot Act to secretly obtain personal information about people. This is a far greater travesty that undermines the U.S. Constitution and has a much greater lasting impact than the firings.

It is appalling that the FBI would circumvent the law to pour through thousands of citizens’ telephone, medical and financial records.

Capitalizing on the nation’s paranoia with terrorism, some FBI agents abused their power and went too far to obtain information. Then, FBI officials had the gall to keep congressional representatives in the dark about their zealous use of national security letters to get data.

The security letters, a power provided through the Patriot Act, allow FBI agents to get bank, credit-card and other records without a judge’s approval. Basically, it gives investigators carte blanche to get information with no safeguards attached.

And then for three straight years, FBI officials drastically underreported the number of times national security letters were used to gather information.

The cavalier actions have to have consequences.

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[CrazyOrangeCat]

1. We cannot survive long without oversight re: federal cops. n/t

[babylonsister]

2. And we cannot forget this little moment in history that seems to be

getting swept aside with all the other FUBARs we know about. The FBI needs to be held accountable, and I don't just mean the FBI director admitting responsibility.