Friday Government News Release Watch

Often, our government issues its most interesting news releases of Friday. The idea is that they are less likely to get widespread coverage if they are released just beforethe weekend. Therefore, we need to pay special attention to these items.

FBI Investigated 3,501 People Without Warrants
Received Details From Banks, Credit Card, Telephone and Internet Companies
By MARK SHERMAN, AP

WASHINGTON (April 29) - The FBI secretly sought information last year on 3,501 U.S. citizens and legal residents from their banks and credit card, telephone and Internet companies without a court's approval, the Justice Department said Friday.

It was the first time the Bush administration has publicly disclosed how often it uses the administrative subpoena known as a National Security Letter, which allows the executive branch of government to obtain records about people in terrorism and espionage investigations without a judge's approval or a grand jury subpoena.

Friday's disclosure was mandated as part of the renewal of the Patriot Act, the administration's sweeping anti-terror law.

I've often thought that there should be a special section in the Sunday paper, summarizing all the news released that the government makes on Friday. posted by : Joseph j7uy5 | link | | |
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