Congress to Probe Improper FBI Data Collection

This was an abuse of the patriot act...

From The Las Vegas Sun:

Congress wants to know how the FBI illegally or improperly gathered telephone, e-mail and financial records of Americans and foreigners while chasing terrorists.

Glenn A. Fine, the Justice Department inspector general who revealed FBI data-gathering abuses in a 130-page report last week, was to appear before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. The panel also called FBI General Counsel Valerie Caproni, whose office was taken to task by Fine for inadequate supervision of the bureau's use of documents called national security letters to gather data.

In a review of headquarters files and a sampling of just four of the FBI's 56 field offices, Fine found 48 violations of law or presidential directives during 2003-2005 and estimated that "a significant number of ... violations throughout the FBI have not been identified or reported."

The bureau has launched an audit of all 56 field offices to determine the full extent of the problem.

On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee hears from Fine and FBI Director Robert Mueller on the same topic.

A key concern in Congress is whether the USA Patriot Act, which substantially loosened controls over the letters, should be revised.

I am really sick and tired of the level of incompetence in our governmental bureaucracy. I know the Left is going to make this all about the Bush administration, but it is not. It is about the FBI being totally incompetent. You know there are allot of people that do not like the Patriot Act, so you be extra careful and dot all your eyes and cross your tees. That used to be common sense, now it is uncommon sense. People in this country are really starting to concern me.