Senate to look at improper FBI spying

A Senate panel wants to know if the Patriot Act needs to be revised to keep the FBI from illegally or improperly gathering telephone, e-mail and financial records of Americans and foreigners while pursuing terrorists.

FBI Director Robert Mueller was to testify Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. It was the panel's second hearing into a report earlier this month by the Justice Department inspector general that revealed abuses in the FBI's use of documents called national security letters to gather data.

The committee plans to hear April 17 from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who is struggling to keep his job amid criticism of the NSL abuses and the firings of eight U.S. attorneys.

"Last year the administration sought new powers in the Patriot Act to appoint U.S. Attorneys without Senate confirmation and to more freely use National Security Letters," Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said in remarks prepared for Tuesday's hearing. "The administration got these powers, and they have badly bungled both."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070327/ap_on_go_co/fbi_patriot_act

But in this case, I think he might be bungling on purpose.

Bryant
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