WAPO: FBI Repeatedly VIOLATED LAW To Access Phone, Financial Records

[kpete]

Frequent Errors In FBI's Secret Records Requests
Audit Finds Possible Rule Violations

By John Solomon and Barton Gellman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, March 9, 2007; Page A01

A Justice Department investigation has found pervasive errors in the FBI's use of its power to secretly demand telephone, e-mail and financial records in national security cases, officials with access to the report said yesterday.

The inspector general's audit found 22 possible breaches of internal FBI and Justice Department regulations -- some of which were potential violations of law -- in a sampling of 293 "national security letters." The letters were used by the FBI to obtain the personal records of U.S. residents or visitors between 2003 and 2005. The FBI identified 26 potential violations in other cases.

..............

The report identified several instances in which the FBI used a tool known as "exigent letters" to obtain information urgently, promising that the requests would be covered later by grand jury subpoenas or national security letters. In several of those cases, the subpoenas were never sent, the review found.

.....................

The report, mandated by Congress over the Bush administration's objections, is to be presented to several House and Senate committees today. But senior officials, speaking with permission on the condition that they not be identified, said the Bush administration has already responded vigorously to the audit's findings.

more at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/08/AR2007030802356.html

[bananas]

1. k&r nt

[2008]

2. k&r (nt)

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. "Bush administration has already responded vigorously"

Barney getting his ass kicked down the hallway by a livid lil chimp. Ms. Bush hiding out by the daffodils chain-smoking.

Life is not good in the WH. Soon we will see justice.