Is the government over-stepping its boundaries under the Patriot Act and the war on terrorism.?

Question

Charges Possible After Patriot Act Audit
By LARA JAKES JORDAN
AP
WASHINGTON (March 9) - 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 illegal intrusions.

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.

The FBI's transgressions were spelled out in a damning 126-page audit by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine. He found that agents sometimes demanded personal data on people without official authorization, and in other cases improperly obtained telephone records in non-emergency circumstances.

"We have some work to do to reassure members of Congress and the American people that we are serious about being responsible in the exercise of these authorities," he said.

Under the Patriot Act, the national security letters give the FBI authority to demand that telephone companies, Internet service providers, banks, credit bureaus and other businesses produce personal records about their customers or subscribers. About three-fourths of the letters issued between 2003 and 2005 involved counterterror cases, with the rest for espionage investigations, the audit reported.

Shoddy record-keeping and human error were to blame for the bulk of the problems, said Justice auditors, who were careful to note they found no indication of criminal misconduct.

Answer 1

About time someone got audited. How did the audit happen? Human error? Let's audit the military budget next and see the shoddy record keeping in relation to Halliburton.

Answer 2

It apparently has been with the FBI admission. However, in general, I, being more of a strict constructionist, think that the Government already had the powers to conduct investigations as it is not an "unreasonable search and seizure" to intercept messages pertaining to war. I do not know why the act was put into place in the first place, except as window dressing, like locking the barn door after the cow escapes. I and several others I know have had IRA/securities trouble due to changing brokers and wiring more than $10,000 from broker to broker, all due to this act that has obviously backfired. Having said that, we do need to keep our country safe and I do not resent the government from spying in the name of legitimate threats. BTW, while it can be asserted that even though Government agents are instructed under wiretap laws to ignore personal conversations, and even though it is extremely unlikely that agents would find the time be able to process so much information about so many people, I still think a Judge should issue the warrant and do it by the letter and spirit of the law, leaving us non-combatants out of the mix.

Answer 3

This is old news.

We've known for at least the past three years that the government has been abusing its power, and doing things that are illegal and unconstitutional. The Supreme Court said so in 2004 and 2006, and other federal courts have said so before and since.

The problem is, as a people, we collectively don't seem to care enough about the government breaking the law to do anything about it.

Answer 4

The Patriot Act in my opinion is unconstitutional, and Glenn Beck or every physique else for that remember has a outstanding by using the form to deface an American flag even however I strongly disapprove of it.

Answer 5

were not going far enough. the enemy operates without rules, without restrictions, without oversight, on our soil. Why do we restrict ourselves in the execution of the war against them? restrictive rules of engagement directly benefit the enemy who readily exploit it as a weakness. This war is the beginning of a generational war. the choices we make now to execute it will determine if it is a hundred years war, or a 30 years war.

Answer 6

No. They are agressively defending this country against terrorism. That is what they must do. I am not selling drugs or doing anything wrong, they can check on me and what I do anytime they want. with all the people that want to see us fail, it is refreshing to see that someone is trying to win the fight.

Answer 7

This whole Patriot Act business is unconstitutional.

Answer 8

When the "top law enforcement officials" prosecute the law breakers, then your question becomes rather moot, doesn't it?

But then that would ruin all your fun! Who am I to stop you from taking the mistakes of one person and applying them to others indiscriminately?

(This practice, false accusation, is a demonstrable liberal character trait. It happens daily. Liberals are nothing but mean, nasty and loud, hardly worth taking seriously.)

Answer 9

What did you expect? Of course they have oversteppd the boundries. This Administration wants to take our rights from us. What is sad is that I figured that out in 2000 but too many others were duped.

Answer 10

Obviously they have been because the FBI has admitted it.