To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Hasan Diwan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Fwd: [IP] F.B.I.'s Reach Into Records Is Set to Grow Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 16:04:19 -0800
Does this make you as worried as it makes me? Begin forwarded message:
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Delivered-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 10:40:18 +0100 From: the terminal of Geoff Goodfellow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: F.B.I.'s Reach Into Records Is Set to Grow To: Dave E-mail Pamphleteer Farber <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
F.B.I.'s Reach Into Records Is Set to Grow By ERIC LICHTBLAU The New York Times
Published: November 12, 2003
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.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/12/politics/12RECO.html
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