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FBI Lied To Support Need For PATRIOT Act Expansion

Posted by kdawson on from the control-freaks-in-the-ascendent dept.

I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "It probably won't surprise you, but in 2005, the FBI manufactured evidence to get the power to issue National Security Letters under the PATRIOT Act. Unlike normal subpoenas, NSLs do not require probable cause and you're never allowed to talk about having received one, leading to a lack of accountability that caused them to be widely abused. The EFF has discovered via FOIA requests that an FBI field agent was forced by superiors to return papers he got via a lawful subpoena, then demand them again via an NSL (which was rejected for being unlawful at the time), and re-file the original subpoena to get them back. This delay in a supposedly critical anti-terror investigation then became a talking point used by FBI Director Robert Mueller when the FBI wanted to justify their need for the power to issue National Security Letters."

9 of 396 comments (clear)

  1. National Security Letters in full: by MadMidnightBomber · · Score: 5, Funny

    Apparently the National Security Letters are 'F', 'U', 'C', 'K' and 'U'.

    --
    "It doesn't cost enough, and it makes too much sense."
    1. Re:National Security Letters in full: by MadKeithV · · Score: 2, Funny

      Why do you hate America?
      BTW: STFU would be better letters because it doesn't duplicate the U. Though charging twice for the same letter sounds like a typical government thing too ;-)

  2. share the pain by apodyopsis · · Score: 3, Funny

    Golly. Talk about your basic police state.

    I'm jolly glad that I live in the United Kingd.......

    oh.

  3. Kids by EveLibertine · · Score: 3, Funny

    But mom, I need NSL's. I need them or I'll DIE.
    Who put these kids in charge?

  4. Re:A real danger by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    OMG! Get with it, the season is already like 8 weeks in LOL!

  5. Re:Perfect example by gardyloo · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's because Hell has good marketing and efficient fiscal expenditure.

  6. Re:A real danger by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Funny

    because I'm not doing anything wrong and I've got nothing to hide.
    That's not what I hear. In fact, according to some people who know you very well, you have quite a bit to hide.

    See how easy that was?
    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  7. Re:A real danger by sm62704 · · Score: 2, Funny

    You're just jaded

    I can't argue with that, although I think "cynical" might be a more accurate description. Yet I still show up at the polls tilting at windmills every election.

    --
    mcgrew's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest
  8. Re:A real danger by Gat0r30y · · Score: 2, Funny

    Honest politicians what? you must be new here.
    --
    Prediction: The real iPhone killer is going to be sex robots from Japan. Think about it.