Can you give me examples of the FBI's abuse of power?

Answer 1

Since I don't know you and I am on a traceable ip address......
No, I personally thing they do just a wonderfull job.........
I am fully supportive of the great agents in the field as well as all of those guys over at the IRS...............
Excuse me while I go puke!!

Answer 2

Congress Probes FBI Abuse of Power in Gaining Personal Data
By Peter Fedynsky
Washington
20 March 2007

Fedynsky report (Real Media) - Download 363k
Listen to Fedynsky report (Real Media)


U.S. legislators on Tuesday heard first hand the findings of an internal government report, which revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, abused its powers in obtaining personal information during investigations of suspected terrorists. VOA's Peter Fedynsky reports an FBI official acknowledged the revelations have damaged the agency's credibility.

Nearly 80 minutes into the hearing, Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers banged the gavel to restore order after a member of the audience briefly disrupted the proceedings.

The comment "We don't trust the FBI!" underscored what the FBI's General Counsel, Valerie Caproni, told the committee earlier in the hearing - that the bureau needs American public support to fight terrorism, particularly in neighborhoods susceptible to radical influence. "We need people in those communities to call us when they hear or see something that looks amiss. We know that we reduce the probability of that call immeasurably, if we lose the confidence of any part of the American public," she said.

That trust, however, has been eroded amid revelations that the FBI may have misused so-called National Security Letters to obtain private information about people, without getting prior approval from a judge or a grand jury.

Controls over how the letters are used was loosened under the so-called Patriot Act, a controversial law passed by Congress to hunt for terrorists in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.


FBI officials Valerie Caproni (l) and Glenn Fine
In his testimony, Inspector General Glenn Fine told the House Judiciary Committee that the FBI dramatically increased the number of National Security letters in violation of statues, and policies established by the bureau and the U.S. Attorney General. But Fine said the FBI did not intentionally violate the law. "We believe the misuses and problems that we found generally were the problem of mistakes, carelessness, confusion, sloppiness, lack of training, lack of adequate guidance and lack of adequate oversight," he said.

Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, however, noted that the FBI was aware of the abuses as early as 2004. The Inspector General conceded that his investigation did not inquire about the actions of individuals. He said it would be appropriate for the FBI to learn exactly who was doing what, when and why, and to hold people accountable for any violations.

Committee member Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat and critic of the Patriot Act, said the FBI abuses could be attributed to the law itself. "It is not enough to mandate that the FBI fix internal management problems and record-keeping, because the statute itself authorizes the unchecked collection of information on innocent Americans," he said.

But Republican Lamar Smith of Texas said the problem is due to poor implementation. "It is clear from the report that these deficiencies are the result of the poor implementation and administration of national security letter authority. In other words, the problem is enforcement of the law, not the law itself," he said.


Members of the Judiciary Committee warned the FBI that it could lose its expanded surveillance authority, if the bureau fails to correct its mistakes.

Answer 3

I see the red-neck crowd is out with their favorite causes. The FBI abused power back in the 1950s and 1960s when it amassed huge dossiers on Dr. Martin Luther King and his buddies rather than cracking down on Civil Rights violators in the South.

Answer 4

Why is it that any government agency which makes arrests is always abusing power? Never do you condemn the culprits who necessitated the need for using power! What is it with you people? Hasn't any one taught you discipline, right from wrong, good from bad, or that laws are for all of us to follow so that there is order in our lives ? Were you reared or dragged up? And blame some of that on your parents.

Answer 5

The Branch Davidian compound attack in Waco, Texas when Janet Reno was the Attorney General serving under Bill Clinton.

Answer 6

Ruby Ridge.