Posted on 05/24/2015 4:22:35 PM PDT by cotton1706
FBI agents cant point to any major terrorism cases theyve cracked thanks to the key snooping powers in the Patriot Act, the Justice Departments inspector general said in a report Thursday that could complicate efforts to keep key parts of the law operating.
Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz said that between 2004 and 2009, the FBI tripled its use of bulk collection under Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which allows government agents to compel businesses to turn over records and documents, and increasingly scooped up records of Americans who had no ties to official terrorism investigations.
The FBI did finally come up with procedures to try to minimize the information it was gathering on nontargets, but it took far too long, Mr. Horowitz said in the 77-page report, which comes just as Congress is trying to decide whether to extend, rewrite or entirely nix Section 215.
Backers say the Patriot Act powers are critical and must be kept intact, particularly with the spread of the threat from terrorists. But opponents have doubted the efficacy of Section 215, particularly when its used to justify bulk data collection such as in the case of the National Security Agencys phone metadata program, revealed in leaks from former government contractor Edward Snowden.
The new report adds ammunition to those opponents, with the inspector general concluding that no major cases have been broken by use of the Patriot Acts records-snooping provisions.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
These provisions need to die next Sunday at midnight!!
Jeb Bush rises in defense of Patriot Act
Likely Republican presidential contenders Jeb Bush and Chris Christie on Friday heartily endorsed the Patriot Act and the permission it gives the government to collect phone records in bulk, mocking those who deride the intelligence overhaul passed after the Sept. 11 attacks as an encroachment on civil liberties.
There is ample evidence that the Patriot Act has been a tool to keep us safe, ample evidence, Bush said at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference. There is no evidence of anyones civil liberties being violated because of it.
I know they are not one bit serious about security as long as they keep importing Muslims.
I wonder how many supposed conservatives in the US Senate will vote to keep them. They certainly have plenty of time to get the message.
How odd. Just yesterday a supposedly NSA affiliated freeper was railing me about how important it is for the NSA to spy on us.
I LOVE your parenthetical.
Patriot Act is for nothing more than spying on Americans. NOTHING more. Let it die.
“I LOVE your parenthetical.”
I know the Establishment monitors Free Republic. It was a message from the people to them!
Have you seen the video of McConnell getting completely shut down? It’s a beautiful thing. Mitch will have to either allow amendments, swallow the USA Freedom Act, or let the damn provisions expire. I’m sure he’ll be lobbying all week. He loves these cliff scenarios, backing senators up against a wall. But he’s up against a wall this time!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tMttmDdhgc
Go back 9 or 10 years and see how many supposed conservatives here on FR supported it, and violently denigrated any of us opposed; not forgetting or forgiving those A-holesof left or right that supported it.
FReepers want spying but do not want fencing.
How many definitions of the word "conservative" can there be?
Patriot Act = Totalitarian Act
“Go back 9 or 10 years and see how many supposed conservatives here on FR supported it, and violently denigrated any of us opposed; not forgetting or forgiving those A-holesof left or right that supported it.”
I was just a lurker then but I remember it well.
That was when GWB was a hero here as was Karl Rove.
Let it die.
Of course this is from the same FBI that believes the Ft Hood massacre was just workplace violence. How can any terrorist attack qualify as a major terrorist attack when no terrorist attack is actually attributed to terrorism these days?
Can they point to any instances of private information being used in any manner, besides screening for national security threats?
KY Mitch will always believe in the Democrat way but insists on wearing an “R” label for some strange reason.
That’s because the program wasn’t pervasive enough!
No major cases but I am sure the political blackmail has been extensive.
Nut-job Conspiracy Theory Ping!
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