FBI abused power to get private records: report

[Eugene]

(Reuters)

FBI abused power to get private records: report

By James Vicini
Reuters
Friday, March 9, 2007; 11:48 AM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI abused its power by illegally or improperly
obtaining telephone, financial and other secret records in investigations of
terrorism or espionage suspects, the U.S. Justice Department's inspector
general said on Friday.

A report by Inspector General Glenn Fine's office sharply criticized the FBI
for how, without a court order, it demanded and received records such as
customer information from telephone companies, Internet service providers,
financial institutions and consumer credit companies.

"We believe the improper or illegal uses we found involve serious misuses
of national security letter authorities," Fine said in releasing the report.

National security letters allow the FBI to compel the release of private
information without getting authority from a judge or grand jury.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/09/AR2007030900806.html

[Demeter]

1. Bless you, Of Course They Did!

Laws are for little people--criminals like you and I.