[ellery]

The Otter amendment would have no effect on secret search warrants obtained under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is aimed at agents of foreign powers such as spies and terrorists. The FISA law was also expanded and updated by the USA Patriot Act.

So how does this hurt the war on terror if the government is still able to get secret warrants for foreign terrorists? Seems to me the Patriot Act simply allowed the feds to extend the sneak and peek method to ALL crime.

Also interesting that this article confirms DOJ HAS used this provision 14 times since April to seize private property without first notifying the owner! How can anyone support this particular provision and still claim to be conservative?

[TigersEye]

The warrants must be approved by a judge and are permitted in limited circumstances.

That kind of undercuts the "unbridled authority" assertion doesn't it?