A report issued today by the Justice Department's Inspector General Glenn A. Fine reveals that the FBI continues to misuse national security letters ("NSLs") and violate Americans' privacy rights. Through numerous privacy breaches, the FBI has illegally obtained personal information on tens of thousands of Americans and foreigners in 2006 alone.
Inspector General Fine attributes these breaches to poor recordkeeping, oversight and other problematic practices. Congressman John Conyers, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, points out that the report comes at a time when the White House is attempting to bully Congress into expanding the President's spying powers.
Moreover, Inspector General Fine indicates that the FBI botched their 2007 investigation of NSL-misuse by FBI field offices (report at 16); an investigation that the FBI promised to avoid a three-pronged beatdown by Congress, the media and public. The year before, the FBI employees reported 84 possible violations of laws or guidelines associated with the FBI's [mis]use of NSLs.
13 March 2008
FBI Misuse of National Security Letters Continues, Field Investigation Botched
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