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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."

2 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."
  2. 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.