FBI Admits To Over 100 Eavesdropping Violations

[kpete]

FBI Cites More Than 100 Possible Eavesdropping Violations

By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 9, 2006; Page A09

The FBI reported more than 100 possible violations to an intelligence oversight board over the past two years, including cases in which agents tapped the wrong telephone, intercepted the wrong e-mails or continued to listen to conversations after a warrant had expired, according to a report issued yesterday.

In one case, the FBI obtained the contents of 181 telephone calls rather than just the billing records to which it was entitled. In another, a communication was monitored for more than a year after eavesdropping should have ended -- although investigators blamed a third-party provider for the mix-up.

The findings were part of a semiannual report by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine on problems related to the USA Patriot Act, the broad anti-terrorism law that is scheduled to be renewed today with President Bush's signature.

The report confirmed that Fine's office is investigating a broad range of issues related to the government's anti-terrorism efforts. They include investigations of the FBI's role at military detention facilities in Iraq, in Cuba and elsewhere; the bureau's use of National Security Letters; and the FBI's treatment of antiwar protesters.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/08/AR2006030802132.html

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. And, what right do they have to prosecute criminals when they're

breaking the laws themselves? One asks.

[Toucano]

4. Who will police the police?

Every society copes with that challenge.

The problem is with the creation of the myth that somehow the United States is an enchanted place where police corruption doesn't occur, but when it does, it's always for the best.

It's even glorified. Every single movie and TV show about law enforcement ALWAYS depicts the "maverick" agent or officer who simply MUST violate procedure and the law in order to convict the bad guy. It's one of the most deeply entrenched clichés in the world.

[MountainLaurel]

2. If that's what they ADMIT TO

You can probably quadruple that number to arrive at the total number of violations. Plus, they certainly wouldn't report the most egregious.

[jsamuel]

7. exactly, if that is what they ADMIT TO, then we have a serious problem!

[redqueen]

3. Please, God, don't let this be yet another whitewash.

Seems there have been precious few meaningful investigations since the Church Commission.

... and not a word about the coup in Venezuela. *sigh*

[Hubert Flottz]

5. Did the war Protesters "Call the terrorists overseas" or did the...

"Terrorists Overseas Call The War Protesters?" Bush swore they never spied on ANYONE that hadn't called overseas or had gotten a call from another country. Did Bush and all the republicans who covered for Bush on the issue, LIE? Were the Quakers Calling overseas?

[BuyingThyme]

6. EXTREMELY limited hangout.

Might be a record.

"The only time we break the law is when we make mistakes."

[mdmc]

8. kick