Group alleges FBI abused wiretaps to spy on government officials

[robertpaulsen]

Group alleges FBI abused wiretaps to spy on government officials
RAW STORY
Published: Monday March 5, 2007

According to a release sent to RAW STORY by the group National Security Whistleblowers Coalition, government officials were illegaly wiretapped by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in order to advance a public corruption investigation.

A 2002 complaint by FBI Special Agent Gilbert Graham alleges that an FBI task force on which he was serving used counterintelligence wiretaps in order to primarily spy on US government officials.

"It is the complainant’s reasonable belief that the request for ELSUR coverage was a subterfuge to collect evidentiary information concerning public corruption matters," the just released complaint shows.

The full release is included below, and can also be accessed, with links to relevant documents, at the NSWBC website.

more...

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Group_alleges_FBI_abused_wiretaps_to_0305.html

[Botany]

1. Any doubt that they used to the NSA to spy on Kerry in '04?

If Rove & Cheney had the NSA @ their disposal what would have
stopped them from using for political gain?

Honesty? The Law? Ethics?

[robertpaulsen]

2. Great point.

I hope Waxman looks into this a whole lot deeper.

[bleever]

8. I have no doubt whatsoever.

Hell, they were spying on Colin Powell to make sure he didn't derail the war with diplomacy.

[Rowdy Church]

3. It Would Explain Congress Actions

How many times have we seen members of Congress vehemently voice opposition to a bill or something that the White House has proposed only to witness these same members flip-flop immediately following a private meeting at the White House?

How many times have we seen Committee Chairmen voice opposition - yet when the rubber meets the road they back down?

From what we know of the Nixon WH, and the fact that this administration is full of Nixon-era staff ... it's not off the mark to suggest or draw the conclusion that this administration may have been up to some old tricks and has been using the NSA wiretapping program to build a dossier on members of Congress, members of the media and even private citizens for their own political gain.

It certainly would explain a lot.

[Botany]

4. Such as George Vonivich of Ohio?

So opposed to Bolton that he broke down crying but just a little while later
he was "fine" w/ Bolton.

[unblock]

7. welcome to du!

and a welcome perspective at that!

:hi:

[blm]

5. No surprise, at all.

Hey robert....

what happened to your American Judas thread from last week? I checked in yesterday to catch up and couldn't find it at all.

[robertpaulsen]

6. I still have no official answer why Judas disappeared.

Apparently it was completely deleted. I have e-mailed the administrator this morning asking for an explanation and requesting that my thread, which took nearly a month to compile the research, be reinstated.

No response yet.

[blm]

10. Someone from the coverup wing of the party probably lodged a complaint.

There are REAL Democrats and there are coverup artists wearing Dem name tags. I think there has been quite a bit of concern shown by the the establishment Dems who want certain voices shut down. I see it in any thread that links BFEE crimes over the last few decades, because one can only conclude that BushInc had some invaluable protection from wellknown Democrats.
'
Watch how fast a Parry thread gets attacked or disrupted.

[bleever]

9. Two clues come together.

A 2002 complaint by FBI Special Agent Gilbert Graham alleges that an FBI task force on which he was serving used counterintelligence wiretaps in order to primarily spy on US government officials.

"It is the complainant’s reasonable belief that the request for ELSUR coverage was a subterfuge to collect evidentiary information concerning public corruption matters," the just released complaint shows.

And now they're firing federal prosecutors who actually pursue corruption and reject pressure exerted by legislators, regardless of the fact that it might hurt Republican interests.

NSA, FBI, CIA...

Somebody wants to have all the blocks.