ACLU Refutes FBI’s Claims of “Unintentional” Patriot Act Abuses, Citing Lies About Authority

[kpete]

ACLU Refutes FBI’s Claims of “Unintentional” Patriot Act Abuses, Citing Lies About Authority to Demand Phone Company Records (3/9/2007)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: [e-mail]

FBI Should Notify Customers and Name the Phone Companies Involved, ACLU Says

ACLU Analysis of DOJ Report Online at: www.aclu.org/safefree/nationalsecurityletters/28969lgl20070309.html

WASHINGTON – Claims that the FBI’s reported Patriot Act abuses were the “unintentional” result of outmoded computer systems and human error are not credible, the American Civil Liberties Union said today, citing evidence that agents contracted with phone companies to obtain customer records and later sought to cover up the illegal requests.

The report also shows that the FBI is issuing hundreds of thousands more National Security Letters than ever imagined, and that tracking of the NSLs is sloppy, resulting in thousands of innocent Americans being entered into databases that are shared with numerous U.S. agencies and foreign governments.

“It seems that every time the American people entrust the Bush administration with some new power, it not only abuses that power but also seizes additional powers without our knowledge,” said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. “It is long past time for Congress to take back the civil liberties of the American people and right these wrongs. The Attorney General and the FBI are part of the problem and cannot be trusted to be the only solution.”

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

“It simply is not credible for the FBI to claim that these unauthorized and illegal fishing expeditions were the result of human error or outmoded computer systems,” Romero said.


more at:
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/nationalsecurityletters/28968prs20070309.html?s_src=RSS
full report: http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/special/s0703b/final.pdf

edit to add:



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

Gonzales, Mueller admit FBI broke law
By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer
Sat Mar 10, 7:54 AM ET

WASHINGTON - 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

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.

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

[stonebone]

1. No doubt the coverup was unintentional too.

[robinlynne]

2. k&rs for kpete and the ACLU!

edit to add:
I really appreciate it when someone calls their bullshit, because the bullshit hasn't even slowed down.

[formercia]

3. I would like to know if my records were requested

a lot of good it would do.

[rodeodance]

4. perhaps the only sloppy thing is their getting caught!

[libertarianseeker]

6. Perhaps they don't mind so much being caught

since they won't want a Democratic Justice Department to have extralegal powers in 2 years.... Same as with the electronic voting fiasco, the past 7 years cannot be undone, only the residue can be removed.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

5. To me, this violation is the most egregious act AGAINST democracy possible.

The activities should be 'sunshined' and squelched IMMEDIATELY because they constitute an absolute threat to the people, the constitution and the thread of an ideal called, 'democracy'.

I just can't imagine any person who does not understand the seriousness of such violations.

[Kurovski]

7. K&R.(nt)