FBI says problems with letters fixed (NSLs)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - The FBI is resisting legislation that would put more restrictions on domestic surveillance of Americans' private records, saying the agency already has tightened its rules to crack down on wrongful use of national security letters.

FBI general counsel Valerie E. Caproni told a House panel Tuesday that the agency has responded to abuses outlined in internal reports by tightening the requirements for issuing national security letters.

National security letters, or NSLs, are investigative tools used to compel businesses to turn over customer information without a judge's order or grand jury subpoena.

She said the agency has improved training programs on the use of NSLs and limited information that can be gathered from third parties — like phone companies and banks.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080415/ap_on_go_co/congress_national_security_letters;_

[BumRushDaShow]

1. These things should not even be legal! n/t

[rcsl1998]

2. Does 'Fixing' The Problem Mean The Just-Us Dept Provided A Memo To Cover Their Acts?

[petronius]

3. If they're not doing anything wrong, then they don't have anything to worry about, do they?

Isn't that what cops like to say?

Law enforcement agencies are always going to push the limits, and that's not always a bad thing. It's up to legislators to clearly define exactly what the limits are and hold the LEOs to them. It always raises my hackles when an agency claims that regulation is unnecessary because they're voluntarily not doing (insert overly-aggressive thing here). Without clear boundaries, they will always end up crossing the line...

[maddezmom]

4. Improper NSL Issued Upon the 'Advice and Direction of FBIHQ'

Improper NSL Issued Upon the 'Advice and Direction of FBIHQ'
San Francisco - The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has found that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which claims that National Security Letters (NSLs) take too long and that it needs the authority to conduct surveillance without judicial oversight, delayed its own investigation of a student suspected of links to terrorism by employing an improper NSL to seek information on the suspect, at the direction of FBI Headquarters. The FBI failed to report the misuse for almost two years.

EFF's report comes as the House Judiciary Committee prepares for a Tuesday hearing on the misuse of NSLs. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold another hearing on Wednesday.

"This report raises important questions about the FBI's use of these very powerful investigative tools," said EFF Senior Staff Attorney Kurt Opsahl. "Congress should determine why FBI headquarters insisted on an improper NSL instead of using the appropriate tools, and why the FBI failed to report the misuse for almost two years."

In the report, EFF used documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request coupled with public information to detail the bizarre turns in the FBI's investigation of a former North Carolina State University student. Over the span of three days in July of 2005, FBI documents show that the bureau first obtained the educational records of the suspect with a grand jury subpoena. However, at the direction of FBI headquarters, agents returned the records and then requested them again through an improper NSL.

more:http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2008/04/14

[gratuitous]

5. Don't miss what happened

When Congress was last considering this extra-constitutional violation of citizens' rights, the FBI purposely fucked up an NSL just before the hearing so that they could report "problems" to the committees. The information they were seeking had been furnished under a properly issued subpoena, but they wanted to peddle a tale of woe and need, so they returned the documents, issued a defective NSL which was properly refused, and then ran to Congress looking for a solution to a problem that didn't exist.

mcjoan at Daily Kos has the whole story:

Conspiracy to Lie to Congress?
by mcjoan
Tue Apr 15, 2008 at 06:40:18 PM PDT
Via mateosf, FBI director Robert Mueller and his agency might be in some serious trouble.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has just published a report on the misuse of a National Security Letter by the FBI. Using the Freedom of Information Act, they obtained FBI documents showing that the FBI purposely delayed an investigation in the 2005 London bombings.

_____________________________

Read the rest at http://www.dailykos.com/

[Supersedeas]

6. isn't this the second go round with reports of abuse--yet, we're supposed to trust the Bushites

[Solly Mack]

7. everyone in government is always going to "fix" something or "fixing" it

but no one is ever being held accountable for their abuses

because everyone knows if you "fix" it then all is well

any damages caused...magically fixed
any laws broken....magically fixed
and the law breakers? well, they "fixed" it didn't they?