A not-so-shocking story
Breaking news–the FBI lied. To us, citizens of the United State of America! Was it for our protection? No. For someone, anyones protection? No. To further their own cause? Why yes. Yes it was.
Slashdot exposed exactly how FBI wrangled around working procedures in order to support the Patriot Act. An employee was forced by superiors to return information he received by a subpoena then request the information again via an National Security Letters (NSL). At the time this was illegal. It was illegal because NSLs do not require probable cause, cannot be discussed by the public, and lack accountability.
As Slashdot wrote
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.
Luckily FOIA laws nabbed them in their tracks and they are now having to face the lie. Won’t help much in stopping the abuse of NSLs but it is a baby step in the right direction.
Add comment April 16th, 2008
