FBI snooped on thousands without court approval

[rodeodance]

in case some missed this story yesterday:


© 2006 The Associated Press

FBI snooped on thousands without court approval

By MARK SHERMAN
Apr 29, 2006, 07:56


The FBI secretly sought information last year on 3,501 U.S. citizens and legal residents from their banks and credit card, telephone and Internet companies without a court's approval, the Justice Department said Friday.

It was the first time the Bush administration has publicly disclosed how often it uses the administrative subpoena known as a National Security Letter, which allows the executive branch of government to obtain records about people in terrorism and espionage investigations without a judge's approval or a grand jury subpoena.

Friday's disclosure was mandated as part of the renewal of the Patriot Act, the administration's sweeping anti-terror law.

The FBI delivered a total of 9,254 NSLs relating to 3,501 people in 2005, according to a report submitted late Friday to Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and Senate. In some cases, the bureau demanded information about one person from several companies.

The numbers from previous years remain classified, officials said........
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/042906fbi.shtml

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. News?

Ever hear of COINTELPRO?

FBI snooping illegally has never been 'news'.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. If 50% of those snooped on were from here (DU) then there should

be a collective effort to sue them to hell and back.

[heartofthesiskiyou]

3. This is disinformation... It's WAY worse

x(
I can't open a new post yet as I just "joined" today and posting rules dictate I have to post to some messages first. I've viewed some information from the AT&T suit filed by EFF and I'll say this, IT'S NOT SAFE. Stand by..