FC: House Judiciary chairman on FBI powers: "deeply troubled"

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

Note there is a difference between Rep. Sensenbrenner being "deeply 
troubled" about the substance of the FBI's new authority -- compared to the 
mechanism by which the bureau got it. If we take his statement below at 
face value, he's mostly concerned about the procedure, not the new powers 
themselves.

Also see Sen. Leahy's FBI Reform Act statement:
http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200205/052902.html

Previous Politech message:

"Ashcroft on new investigation rules: FBI has been 'frustrated'"
http://www.politechbot.com/p-03592.html

-Declan

---

U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on the Judiciary
F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., Chairman
_______________________________________
www.house.gov/judiciary

News Advisory
For immediate 
release 
Contact: Terry Shawn
May 31, 
2002 
202-225-2492

Chairman Sensenbrenner Reacts to Revised Investigative Guidelines for the FBI


WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James 
Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) issued the following statement today in response to 
Attorney General John Ashcroft's announcement of revised investigative 
guidelines for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

"Yesterday, Attorney General John Ashcroft and Federal Bureau of 
Investigation Director Robert Mueller announced new guidelines for the 
conduct of criminal investigations by the FBI. I am deeply troubled by the 
Department of Justice's failure to consult with Congress over changes to 
investigative policies that have been in place for more than 20 years."

"The House Judiciary Committee has a history of working with the FBI on 
these guidelines. In the past, I supported them as an important limitation 
on FBI investigative practices to prevent the abuses of the 1960s and 
1970s. Many believed at the time that these guidelines were essential to 
restore faith in the FBI."

"These important safeguards of American privacy and freedom should not be 
significantly altered without careful consideration and a full explanation 
of the reasons for any changes. I look forward to hearing the Attorney 
General's and the FBI Director's testimony before the Judiciary Committee 
in the near future regarding the decision to revise these guidelines."

###30###




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