A Justice Department plan would loosen restrictions on the Federal Bureau of Investigation to allow agents to open a national security or criminal investigation against someone without any clear basis for suspicion, Democratic lawmakers briefed on the details said Wednesday.
The plan, which could be made public next month, has already generated intense interest and speculation. Little is known about its precise language, but civil liberties advocates say they fear it could give the government even broader license to open terrorism investigations.
Congressional staff members got a glimpse of some of the details in closed briefings this month, and four Democratic senators told Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey in a letter on Wednesday that they were troubled by what they heard.
The senators said the new guidelines would allow the F.B.I. to open an investigation of an American, conduct surveillance, pry into private records and take other investigative steps “without any basis for suspicion.” The plan “might permit an innocent American to be subjected to such intrusive surveillance based in part on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, or on protected First Amendment activities,” the letter said. It was signed by Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.
As the end of the Bush administration nears, the White House has been seeking to formalize in law and regulation some of the aggressive counterterrorism steps it has already taken in practice since the Sept. 11 attacks.
Congress overhauled the federal wiretapping law in July, for instance, and President Bush issued an executive order this month ratifying new roles for intelligence agencies. Other pending changes would also authorize greater sharing of intelligence information with the local police, a major push in the last seven years.
The Justice Department is already expecting criticism over the F.B.I. guidelines. In an effort to pre-empt critics, Mr. Mukasey gave a speech last week in Portland, Ore., describing the unfinished plan as an effort to “integrate more completely and harmonize the standards that apply to the F.B.I.’s activities.” Differing standards, he said, have caused confusion for field agents.
Mr. Mukasey emphasized that the F.B.I. would still need a “valid purpose” for an investigation, and that it could not be “simply based on somebody’s race, religion, or exercise of First Amendment rights.”
Ok, let me get this straight. I seem to be confused here. So, after 9/11, Congress passed the knee-jerk reaction PATRIOT act, because law enforcement and intelligence agencies said they need these powers to combat terrorism.
Now, just a short while ago, there were hearings where FBI leaders admitted to abusing the PATRIOT act over 2,000 times, including using it for things that weren't even related to terrorism (mob investigations, drug dealers, etc). They've even admitted that they've used it against people who turned out to be innocent.
NOW, they want even more power? Are they out of their minds?? Are we out of our minds for electing people who actually are CONSIDERING this idiocy? The FBI has proven that it cannot be trusted with it's new toy, and it should have it revoked.
Care to guess who pays for the lawsuits for those who were innocently spied upon? Yep, you and I. Our tax dollars go towards lawsuit settlements because the FBI and members of their teams can't seem to understand the Constitution. Hell, a FOURTH GRADER is taught the Constitution and is required to remember what all the amendments are.
If a fourth grader can get it right, you certainly don't want to have a grown adult with a GUN policing the nation if they can't.
Travis
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