F.B.I.'s Reach Into Records Is Set to Grow

[kysrsoze]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/12/politics/12RECO.html


WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 — A little-noticed measure approved by both the House and Senate would significantly expand the F.B.I.'s power to demand financial records, without a judge's approval, from car dealers, travel agents, pawnbrokers and many other businesses, officials said on Tuesday.

Traditional financial institutions like banks and credit unions are frequently subject to administrative subpoenas from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to produce financial records in terrorism and espionage investigations. Such subpoenas, which are known as national security letters, do not require the bureau to seek a judge's approval before issuing them.

The measure now awaiting final approval in Congress would significantly broaden the law to include securities dealers, currency exchanges, car dealers, travel agencies, post offices, casinos, pawnbrokers and any other institution doing cash transactions with "a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax or regulatory matters."

Officials said the measure, which is tucked away in the intelligence community's authorization bill for 2004, gives agents greater flexibility and speed in seeking to trace the financial assets of people suspected of terrorism and espionage. It mirrors a proposal that President Bush outlined in a speech two months ago to expand the use of administrative subpoenas in terrorism cases.

[KT2000]

1. Patriot Act II ?

Maybe this is how they plan to accomplish Patriot Act II since it went over like a lead balloon.
We need a Democratic in congress to read word for word all bills coming up for votes. They are sneaking through too much!

[WindRavenX]

2. It's rather ironic

Conservatives are always bitchin' and moanin' about how Democrats and Liberals are "pro-big government" with their anti-gun laws and social programs, but the minute that abortion, gay rights, and civil liberties are brought up, suddenly they all become lovers of Big Brother...
It's an interesting situation, and most hypocritcal of the conservatives that feel that PATRIOT and CARNIVORE are needed. Of course, many conservatives are actually on our side w/ regards to PATRIOT, which is a good thing. PATRIOT is a danger to America itself, and you don't need to be a liberal or a Democrat to realize that.

[teryang]

3. They are knocking at the front door now

...they've done everything to gut the fourth amendment except break down your front door.

People will start disappearing in the not too distant future. They are still in the compiling lists stage of 1930s Germany.