2008 Woodie Awards
FBI Under Reports Patriot Act
Erika Sawyer
Issue date: 3/15/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
The Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] has failed to report the extent of it's enforcement of the Patriot Act. According to an audit done by the Justice Department, the FBI's failure in this area, specifically in regards to forcing businesses to overturn customer information in suspected terrorism cases is turning heads.
The Patriot Act was passed in October of 2001 in response to 911 attacks and was passed by a senate vote of 98 to 1. The act was put in effect to prevent future terrorist threats and to detect false terrorist information, and those who may be protecting potential terrorists. Since enactment, The Patriot Act has amended other laws concerning banking, immigration, money laundering and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance act.
President Bush has acknowledged what he calls "FBI shortcomings" implying the illegal use of the USA Patriot Act to obtain information of financial records from thousands of businesses.
The President was briefed on a report by the Inspector General of the Justice Department who had found that the Bureau had improperly issued national security letters, which allows the FBI to obtain personal information without court approval.
In other cases, The Justice Department's inspector Glenn Fine reports that over a three year period the FBI has been known to demand personal information with out official authorization, such as telephone records under what is to be considered inappropriate circumstances.
The American Civil Liberties Union [ACLU] believes that there are significant flaws in the Patriot Act and such flaws may threaten the freedoms of American citizens. Namely by granting the government access to your medical and tax records as well as other information concerning transactions and telephone communication.
The Act is set to expire at the end of the year; in the meantime the House of Representatives and the Senate have held hearings to prepare for the upcoming votes in July.
The Patriot Act was passed in October of 2001 in response to 911 attacks and was passed by a senate vote of 98 to 1. The act was put in effect to prevent future terrorist threats and to detect false terrorist information, and those who may be protecting potential terrorists. Since enactment, The Patriot Act has amended other laws concerning banking, immigration, money laundering and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance act.
President Bush has acknowledged what he calls "FBI shortcomings" implying the illegal use of the USA Patriot Act to obtain information of financial records from thousands of businesses.
The President was briefed on a report by the Inspector General of the Justice Department who had found that the Bureau had improperly issued national security letters, which allows the FBI to obtain personal information without court approval.
In other cases, The Justice Department's inspector Glenn Fine reports that over a three year period the FBI has been known to demand personal information with out official authorization, such as telephone records under what is to be considered inappropriate circumstances.
The American Civil Liberties Union [ACLU] believes that there are significant flaws in the Patriot Act and such flaws may threaten the freedoms of American citizens. Namely by granting the government access to your medical and tax records as well as other information concerning transactions and telephone communication.
The Act is set to expire at the end of the year; in the meantime the House of Representatives and the Senate have held hearings to prepare for the upcoming votes in July.
Be the first to comment on this story