More Unsurprising News
Well, well, well. It appears that the FBI is still using National Security Letters to obtain personal information on Americans, according to the Washington Post.
FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III told senators yesterday that agents improperly used a type of administrative subpoena to obtain personal data about Americans until internal reforms were enacted last year.
Mueller said a forthcoming report from the Justice Department's inspector general will find that abuses recurred in the agency's use of national security letters in 2006, echoing similar problems to those identified in earlier audits.
Inspector General Glenn A. Fine reported a year ago that the FBI used such letters -- which are not subject to a court's review -- to improperly obtain telephone logs, banking records and other personal records of thousands of Americans from 2003 to 2005. An internal FBI audit also found that the bureau potentially violated laws or agency rules more than 1,000 times in such cases.
Mueller testified that a follow-up report from Fine's office, due to be released this month, will "identify issues similar to those in the report issued last March." But Mueller emphasized that the time frame in the report "predates the reforms we now have in place" to avoid further abuses. [Emphasis added]
One wonders what excuse Mr. Mueller will use next March when the next IG report issues with what will probably be the same findings, all of which will have come under the "internal reforms" the FBI put into place last year to stop all of this egregious domestic spying.
Of course, Congress could put a stop to this nonsense by passing a law requiring the FBI to obtain court approved subpoenas during such fishing expeditions. In fact, members on both sides of the aisle thought that would be a pretty good idea last year, but didn't actually get around to doing anything about it. Apparently they believed Mr. Mueller when he said he'd take care of the problem. Maybe they'll have a change of heart with this latest finding from the agency's Inspector General.
While they're at it, members of Congress might also want to consider extending and strengthening the Inspector General's office. At least that way we'll have some way of checking up on Mueller and his compadres.
FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III told senators yesterday that agents improperly used a type of administrative subpoena to obtain personal data about Americans until internal reforms were enacted last year.
Mueller said a forthcoming report from the Justice Department's inspector general will find that abuses recurred in the agency's use of national security letters in 2006, echoing similar problems to those identified in earlier audits.
Inspector General Glenn A. Fine reported a year ago that the FBI used such letters -- which are not subject to a court's review -- to improperly obtain telephone logs, banking records and other personal records of thousands of Americans from 2003 to 2005. An internal FBI audit also found that the bureau potentially violated laws or agency rules more than 1,000 times in such cases.
Mueller testified that a follow-up report from Fine's office, due to be released this month, will "identify issues similar to those in the report issued last March." But Mueller emphasized that the time frame in the report "predates the reforms we now have in place" to avoid further abuses. [Emphasis added]
One wonders what excuse Mr. Mueller will use next March when the next IG report issues with what will probably be the same findings, all of which will have come under the "internal reforms" the FBI put into place last year to stop all of this egregious domestic spying.
Of course, Congress could put a stop to this nonsense by passing a law requiring the FBI to obtain court approved subpoenas during such fishing expeditions. In fact, members on both sides of the aisle thought that would be a pretty good idea last year, but didn't actually get around to doing anything about it. Apparently they believed Mr. Mueller when he said he'd take care of the problem. Maybe they'll have a change of heart with this latest finding from the agency's Inspector General.
While they're at it, members of Congress might also want to consider extending and strengthening the Inspector General's office. At least that way we'll have some way of checking up on Mueller and his compadres.
Labels: Domestic Spying, Justice Department, Terra Terra Terra
posted by Diane at 4:01 AM
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