WP: Patriot Act Provision Invoked, Memo Says (Asscrap lied)

[kskiska]

FBI Request Came Weeks After Ashcroft Denied Using Controversial Part of Law

The FBI asked the Justice Department last fall to seek permission from a secret federal court to use the most controversial provision of the USA Patriot Act, four weeks after Attorney General John D. Ashcroft said that part of the law had never been used, according to government documents disclosed this week.

A one-paragraph memo -- saying the FBI wanted to use the part of the law that allows investigators in terrorism and espionage cases easier access to people's business and library records -- was in a stack of documents the government has released under court order, as debate persists over whether use of the anti-terrorism law violates civil liberties.

The 383 pages of documents, many with names and other information blacked out, are the first results of a Freedom of Information Act request and lawsuit filed against the Justice Department by a coalition of civil rights groups. Last month, Ellen Segal Huvelle, a federal appeals court judge for the District, ordered the agency to release certain documents indicating how the FBI is carrying out the law. She denied the government's request to withhold such information for another year.

(snip)

The newly disclosed documents, and a second batch the judge has ordered to be issued next month, come as an election-year fight is raging over whether several parts of the law should be extended beyond the end of next year, when they are scheduled to expire. President Bush argues that all of the law should be made permanent, but many Democrats and some conservative Republicans disagree.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50524-2004Jun17.html

[Robb]

1. No, no, no, no...

...these kind of sweeping powers never get abused. :eyes:

And Justice wanted to hide the info for another year? Or just past November?

[UpInArms]

2. so when in the hell are the headlines going to

scream:

LIARS! ALL of them are LIARS!