AP: Gonzales, Mueller Admit FBI Broke Law

[Rage for Order]

From the "Big Fu***ng Surprise" files:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070310/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/national_security_letters

The nation's top two law enforcement officials acknowledged Friday the
FBI broke the law to secretly pry out personal information about Americans. They apologized and vowed to prevent further illegal intrusions.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales left open the possibility of pursuing criminal charges against FBI agents or lawyers who improperly used the USA Patriot Act in pursuit of suspected terrorists and spies.

The FBI's transgressions were spelled out in a damning 126-page audit by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine. He found that agents sometimes demanded personal data on people without official authorization, and in other cases improperly obtained telephone records in non-emergency circumstances.

The audit also concluded that the FBI for three years underreported to Congress how often it used national security letters to ask businesses to turn over customer data. The letters are administrative subpoenas that do not require a judge's approval. "People have to believe in what we say," Gonzales said. "And so I think this was very upsetting to me. And it's frustrating. We have some work to do to reassure members of Congress and the American people that we are serious about being responsible in the exercise of these authorities," he said.

More at the link

Is there anybody out there who didn't see this type of abuse and overreaching of authority coming? Just another day in the worst administration in the history of the country.

[tularetom]

1. If that's what they admit to

then what they actually did was probably ten times worse.

[Miss Chybil]

2. "Trust us. We're the cops!"

/sarcasm

[Rage for Order]

5. Honest Al's Justice Dept has the best deals in town!

"You've shopped the rest, now shop the best!!!" That's what he sounds like trying to sell this load of crap to us.

[Supersedeas]

31. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. A crime is just a clerical error.

[kestrel91316]

3. Sooooo..........when's Gonzales gonna be fired/impeached/

prosecuted for this?

Oh, that's right. Nevermind.

[IChing]

4. Quick call the FBI and the Justice Dept. someone just committed a federal crime.

NEVERMIND.

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. We're sorry!

So we'll stop, put a stop to it all...except for the new CIA version that's up and running...oh! And all that info the FBI already amassed? We'll just tuck it away for closer inspection and report that it was "destroyed". :sarcasm:

Fuckers! :mad:

[UpInArms]

7. They apologized and vowed to prevent further illegal intrusions.

put that one in the "yeah, we believe your lying asses" file.

I don't think so, ickwad.

Now go to jail and stfu.

[carla]

14. No apologies.

We must demand PROSECUTION of the crimes and the agencies top officials who have allowed this.

[lumpy]

8. If you recall, Bush tried to do his damndest to defend

and justify these illegal acts. Gonzales was just as complicite as G.W.Bush. Justice shold be served.

[ixion]

9. so if the millions of non-violent pot smokers who are in jail say they're sorry

can they get out, too? :shrug:

[Demeter]

20. What About Rolling Stops and Parking Tickets?

Are we having a general amnesty for politeness?

[Purveyor]

10. Then we can count on arrests being made and prosecution initiated? n/t

[lovuian]

11. Gonzales is the WORST to work under orders you to violate the

law and then expects underlings to fall on their sword like Libby

How long are the underlings going to take this???

[ChairmanAgnostic]

26. he started off with true believers who were hired on by ashcroft

although they may not have morning prayer meetings anymore, the top aides are still committed to the ashcroft/gonzales/cheney/bush cause. Don't expect them to change - they really believe in this shit.

[WCGreen]

12. Next time I get pulled over for speeding, I'm gonna apologize...

Do you think it will work for me...

Since when are these two clowns above th law...

[Starfury]

13. Just like Abu Ghraib....

...they'll pursue a few low-level "bad apples," then gravely inform us that the problem's been solved. In reality, we know the problem's systemic.

[truthisfreedom]

15. EVERYONE who did this goes to jail, or we have a vote of ZERO CONFIDENCE in our government.

[radfringe]

16. next excuse....

place your bets - when will they say "we were surprised"

[maddezmom]

17. apologized and vowed to prevent further illegal intrusions

When will these thugs be held accountable? :mad:

[Vinca]

18. I suppose Gonzo and Mueller wouldn't consider resigning. nt

[wicket]

19. K & R

:kick:

[MaineDem]

21. Then they should both be fired!

It's as simple as that.

But this President doesn't understand accountability at all.

[Demeter]

22. Bush Would Have To Fire and Prosecute Himself, Then

Personally, I'm all in favor of that.

[pberq]

23. Justice Dept. IG - what was his motivation?

The tide must be turning. Maybe the underlings have had enough - considering that this saw the light of day at all.

According to Jesselyn Radack, the Justice Dept. whistleblower, the IG normally will act to cover up crimes within the department. Here's the website about her book:

http://www.patriotictruthteller.net/index.html

[vssmith]

24. Mueller is accountable

"But the question should and must be asked: How could this happen? Who is accountable?" Mueller said. "And the answer to that is, I am to be held accountable."

It is like saying, "I am responsible or accountable" takes them/him off the hook. When an official admits responsibility he/she should resign or be fired for failure to do the job but that never happens.

[dkofos]

25. You are both FIRED

[screembloodymurder]

27. Fired ?

When I break the law, I get prosecuted. Are they above the law or just ignorant of it?

[stonebone]

28. Not that they care that they're criminals. They openly admit it without shame.

[Zorra]

29. "People have to believe in what we say," Gonzales said.

That's just never gonna happen.

[aaronbees]

30. Criminals are in charge of this country....

Where are the consequences for this?

[NastyRiffraff]

32. Fired?

I see two medals of honor coming up soon.

[progressoid]

33. They apologized so now everything is fine.