While we were all ecstatic over the Parker decision…
…almost no pro-freedom blogger seemed to cover this little story:
The FBI evaded limits on, and sometimes illegally issued, orders for phone, email and financial information on American citizens and underreported the use of these self-issued orders to Congress, according to an internal audit by the Justice Department released Friday. The DOJ Inspector General reported that the FBI used self-issued subpoenas, known as National Security Letters, to get information on at least 143,074 targets.
Via 27B Stroke 6
Since this is one government agency reporting on another, I’m wondering if the truth is actually even worse. Is there actually any “teeth” (criminal statues that apply to any lawbreakers) to the perpetual “patriot” act? Ideally, I’d like to see someone go to jail over this, but that’s not very likely.
Thankfully, we have our congress-monkeys to the rescue. There’s going to be the typical congressional mischief of hearings to allow the voters to see there critters are “doing something” about this problem that was largely created by itself. Just another dog and pony show. It’s far too early before the election to expect the (D) people in congress to send the President a sweeping, clearly worded bill that they know he’ll veto and they know they won’t attempt to override. Such bills are merely an attempt to score political points. The perpetual “patriot” act is far too useful to the next Democratic administration to repeal completely.
