Sensenbrenner: Collecting phone records abuses Patriot Act(The Author)

Wispolitics ^ | Thursday, June 6, 2013

[Red Steel]

U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Menomonee Falls and the author of the Patriot Act, said today that the federal government's collection of millions of phone records as part of counter-terrorism efforts violates the controversial 2001 law, calling the effort "excessive and un-American."

"While I believe the Patriot Act appropriately balanced national security concerns and civil rights, I have always worried about potential abuses," Sensenbrenner said in a statement. "The (FBI's) broad application for phone records was made under the so-called business records provision of the Act. I do not believe the broadly drafted FISA order is consistent with the requirements of the Patriot Act."

News reports this week disclosed a secret court order to collect millions of Verizon phone records. The White House, the Justice Department and bipartisan leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee have defended the order, saying the practice has been ongoing for years and that Congress has been fully briefed on the matter.

[Red Steel]

6/6/2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, June 6, 2013 Contact: Ben Miller 202-225-5101

(WASHINGTON) – Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) today sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder regarding the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s application for a top secret court order to collect the phone records of essentially every call made by millions of Verizon customers.

Congressman Sensenbrenner: “As the author of the Patriot Act, I am extremely troubled by the FBI’s interpretation of this legislation. While I believe the Patriot Act appropriately balanced national security concerns and civil rights, I have always worried about potential abuses. The Bureau’s broad application for phone records was made under the so-called business records provision of the Act. I do not believe the broadly drafted FISA order is consistent with the requirements of the Patriot Act. Seizing phone records of millions of innocent people is excessive and un-American.”

http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=298656

[Sopater]

While I believe the Patriot Act appropriately balanced national security concerns and civil rights, I have always worried about potential abuses. The Bureau’s broad application for phone records was made under the so-called business records provision of the Act. I do not believe the broadly drafted FISA order is consistent with the requirements of the Patriot Act. Seizing phone records of millions of innocent people is excessive and un-American.

NOW he says something...

[Diogenesis]

Corrupt LawBreaking AG:
"Sensenbrenner? Sounds like a worthless Jewish name.
And WE check with the patriots of Pakeeeystan, Indonesia and Kenya
and THEY agree with your King and his Koran."

---

"When the law no longer protects you from the corrupt,
but protects the corrupt from you -
you know your nation is doomed."
-Ayn Rand

[hal ogen]

Congress (both sides) have been sitting on their thumbs in regards to this lawless administration for some time. Just why would anyone expect these retards to change?

[Cowboy Bob]

What is the date of the secret court order to collect the data from Verizon?

[afraidfortherepublic]

Sensenbrenner (author) speaks on Patriot Act

FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.

[Tau Food]

This means that the author of the Patriot Act disagrees with the FISA court about the meaning of Patriot Act. This does not mean that Sensenbrenner's interpretation is correct. It does mean that Sensenbrenner failed in his obligation to draft an unambiguous statute.

There is also the possibility that Sensenbrenner drafted the Patriot Act as broadly as he could because at that time he wanted to cast himself as favoring an unlimited War on Terrorists and that now that some time has passed, he prefers to cast himself as a staunch defender of privacy interests.

[Gator113]

..

[Irenic]

But you see, Mr.Sensenbrenner, it’s the living, breathing, Patriot Act.

[Sopater]

It does mean that Sensenbrenner failed in his obligation to draft an unambiguous statute.

True...

There is also the possibility that Sensenbrenner drafted the Patriot Act as broadly as he could...

True again. Also, if Congress has been briefed as much as we're hearing, why is he only now speaking up? I would imagine it's because now the cat is out of the proverbial bag and this could prove damaging to his poli-cred.

[RIghtwardHo]

No. It doesn’t. And THAT’S the problem.

[Wellington VII]

The author(s) of the Patriot Act never envisioned a time when we would have the likes as Obama as president and Holder as AG. It would have been prudent of the authors to have placed provisions in the Patriot Act to limit powers granted under the Patriot to future presidential administrations.

[Hotlanta Mike]

He’s up next on Hannity’s radio show...

[ZULU]

No, Mr. Sensenbrenner, the Patriot Act was a stupid piece of legislation.

Perhaps more of your people in Wasington shold take the time to READ and THINK about the garbage you grind out.

But maybe thatwold take you away from your more valued efforts - like playing golf or collecting “campaign” contributions.

[plain talk]

Well this is the key issue. Did Obama follow Patriot Act or not? My guess is the Act was vague enough for dems to lie their way out of it

[Timber Rattler]

Unintended consequences, obviously (eyes rolling).

[joe fonebone]

PATRIOT ACT!!!

THANKS GWB..

THANKS NO BRAIN CONSERVATIVES THAT BACKED THIS..

just sayin”....

[okie01]

PATRIOT ACT!!!

THANKS GWB..

THANKS NO BRAIN CONSERVATIVES THAT BACKED THIS..

The Patriot Act is just another example of legitimate legislation that has been abused and misused by a Democrat administration.

There has been no law passed that a Democrat administration could not pervert and abuse. Or ignore, if that's what suited them.

The problem is not the Patriot Act -- any more than a shooting is the gun's fault -- the problem is who we elect to enforce and execute our laws.