Good news - Lawmakers threaten FBI over spy powers - U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum

3.14 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007

Finally some good news!

Quote:

Lawmakers threaten FBI over spy powers - Yahoo! News

Lawmakers threaten FBI over spy powers

WASHINGTON - Republicans and Democrats sternly warned the FBI on Tuesday that it could lose its broad power to collect telephone, e-mail and financial records to hunt terrorists after revelations of widespread abuses of the authority detailed in a recent internal investigation.

Their threats came as the Justice Department's chief watchdog, Glenn A. Fine, told the House Judiciary Committee that the FBI engaged in widespread and serious misuse of its authority in illegally collecting the information from Americans and foreigners through so-called national security letters.

If the FBI doesn't move swiftly to correct the mistakes and problems revealed last week in Fine's 130-page report, "you probably won't have NSL authority," said Rep. Dan Lungren (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif., a supporter of the power, referring to the data requests by their initials.

"From the attorney general on down, you should be ashamed of yourself," said Rep. Darrell Issa (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif. "We stretched to try to give you the tools necessary to make America safe, and it is very, very clear that you've abused that trust."

If Congress revokes some of the expansive law enforcement powers it granted in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, Issa said, "America may be less safe, but the Constitution will be more secure, and it will be because of your failure to deal with this in a serious fashion."

The FBI's failure to establish sufficient controls or oversight for collecting the information constituted "serious and unacceptable" failures, Fine told the committee.

Democrats called Fine's findings an example of how the Justice Department has used broad counterterrorism authorities to trample on privacy rights.

"This was a serious breach of trust," said Rep. John Conyers (news, bio, voting record), D-Mich., the Judiciary chairman. "The department had converted this tool into a handy shortcut to illegally gather vast amounts of private information while at the same time significantly underreporting its activities to Congress."

I hope they do manage to force the FBI to stop violating people's right to privacy. Maybe the Patriot Act could even be repealed in the future, though perhaps I am being a bit too hopeful here ...

TheLastBoyScout · #2 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007

Is this as serious a threat as the Democrats in congress posed to ending the Bush Administration's War?

Your honor, I strenuously object!

A warning is nothing... are they actually going to do something about it? I'd like to see some bite to the bark.

3.14 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLastBoyScout

A warning is nothing... are they actually going to do something about it? I'd like to see some bite to the bark.

I agree, but at least they are taking it somewhat seriously (the issue of the Patriot Act and the recent misuses etc) - thats something ...

doniston · #4 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pi Jiu

Finally some good news!

I hope they do manage to force the FBI to stop violating people's right to privacy. Maybe the Patriot Act could even be repealed in the future, though perhaps I am being a bit too hopeful here ...

Perhaps Amended???? It's not ALL bad

doniston · #5 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLastBoyScout

Is this as serious a threat as the Democrats in congress posed to ending the Bush Administration's War?

Your honor, I strenuously object!

A warning is nothing... are they actually going to do something about it? I'd like to see some bite to the bark.

let's see if they actually take action "IF" it continues to be warranted.

steveox · #6 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007

Hey Wait a minute ,,,If its ok for Law Enforcement officers to investigate your business,Your Bank Accounts,Your Privacy over the phone,Investigate items in your car or your home why not that applies to the goverment too??? Politicans cant it both ways.If they want security for themselves they have to make laws for security for private citizens too?

MattLarson · #7 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveox

Hey Wait a minute ,,,If its ok for Law Enforcement officers to investigate your business,Your Bank Accounts,Your Privacy over the phone,Investigate items in your car or your home why not that applies to the goverment too??? Politicans cant it both ways.If they want security for themselves they have to make laws for security for private citizens too?

All those horrible things the police do require a warrant.

The wiretapping program is being conducted without warrants.

See the difference?

Matt

steveox · #8 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattLarson

All those horrible things the police do require a warrant.

The wiretapping program is being conducted without warrants.

See the difference?

Matt

No,,Cause no Senator or a member Congress should be safe from Law Enforcement officers.Not even the President should be safe from them.

MattLarson · #9 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007

You might have heard about a few Congress members being sent to jail over the years, or about the FBI searching William Jefferson's House offices?

Matt

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