FBI director misstates Patriot provision

[maddezmom]

FBI director misstates Patriot provision By MICHAEL J. SNIFFEN, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - FBI Director Robert Mueller blames poor training and supervision for the bureau's Patriot Act abuses and promises new training programs. He might want to sign up for the first class himself.

Mueller misstated a key provision of the act in appealing to Congress this week for new authority that was actually granted last year.

"I think he was using old talking points," quipped Georgetown law professor Viet Dinh, who drafted the original Patriot Act in 2001 while serving in the Justice Department.

~snip~

"I would give up NSLs for administrative subpoenas," Mueller responded. "I say that because, in the regime of administrative subpoenas, there is generally opportunity for the recipient to contest it in court, on a variety of reasons. But there also is the opportunity for the government to enforce it in court. We do not have an enforcement mechanism for national security letters."

But the reauthorization of the Patriot Act a year ago provided just such an enforcement mechanism. It provided that if a company refused to provide the requested records, the Justice Department could get a federal court order requiring compliance and contempt of court penalties for further resistance.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070330/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/fbi_patriot_act;_ylt=AhidIccdwsS91W3WVRcuevoD5gcF

[Kagemusha]

1. Is it just me or is this written with a 'And isn't that sweet.' tone?

I mean, it's like, oh, he got the law wrong concerning national security letters to get the personal information of Americans without a court warrant... and now new and improved, the courts will even order compliance and threaten contempt! (Will they do this without even knowing the contents? If not, why not just get a stupid warrant to begin with?)

You'd think this is serious business but no, the FBI director doesn't know the law on national security letters, no big deal...

[tom_paine]

2. PUH-LEEZE! Loyal Bushies DO NOT MISSTATE...they lie & dissemble

It is basically all they do. Loyal Bushies = Loyal Commies (same kind of people, different economic theory)