Aug 11th, 2008
Posted by Suzanne Ito, ACLU at 5:37pm	National Security

FBI: Breaking Its Own Rules...Again

Late Friday, FBI Director Robert Mueller called the executive editors of the Washington Post and New York Times to apologize for improperly collecting the phone records of four reporters in the papers' Indonesia bureaus in 2004 as part of a "terrorism investigation." Collection of such information has to be approved by the deputy attorney general…but the FBI decided to skip that step and just did it anyway.

The New York Times reports:

F.B.I. officials said the incident came to light as part of the continuing review by the Justice Department inspector general’s office into the bureau’s improper collection of telephone records through “emergency” records demands issued to phone providers.

This record collection joins a litany of FBI abuses which first came to light in March, when the Inspector General (IG) released a report (PDF) that found that the bureau has been abusing its use of National Security Letters (NSLs); they issued 200,000 NSL requests between 2003 and 2006. An IG report from March 2007 (PDF) found "instances of illegal or improper use of national security letters."

Pending before Congress are two bills, brought by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y) and Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) to narrow the scope of the FBI's NSL authority. The ACLU supports both S. 2088 and H.R. 3189, and we're hoping both bills will move through Congress this fall, when the IG's next report on the FBI is due.

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Tags: nsl

1. ondelette Says:
   Aug 12th, 2008 at 1:30am

   Please forgive the OT, and forgive posting again on this issue, but the treatment of Aafia Siddiqui by U.S. authorities is becoming an international issue. In the 6 days between her two court hearings, she did not have access to a doctor because it was too "complicated" because she was "high risk". The judge has now ordered that she see a doctor within 24 hours.

   Needless to say, this isn't going down well in Pakistan, which is on the brink of voting to demand her immediate release and repatriation, and is being urged by an advisory legal group to open an inquiry into torture and inhumane treatment by the U.S. and charges being filed against those who rendered her to the Americans.

   Just when you thought it was safe to go outside.

2. Victor Livingston Says:
   Aug 12th, 2008 at 1:12pm

   Ms. Ito:

   Please help me. I am a fairly well-known journalist who is being subject to extra-legal organized "gang stalking" or "community stalking" that I believe is being funded by various levels of government. This extra-legal control mechanism has devastated my finances, invaded my privacy and seriously damaged my health, and that of my family. I have written extensively about this at

   But I was turned away from your office by security guards, and my phone calls and emails appear to be subject to interception and alteration. I called your office from the lobby, but could not get thru. I believe people are being prevented from contacting ACLU. This is very troubling.

   I have filed ACLU web forms to the national site and to the Phila. site, and have gotten no response. I also have telephoned, but I believe my calls are being intercepted. I believe there is a nationwide program that involves interception of not just electronic communications, but U.S. mail. My computers are subject to frequent interruption and breakdown. My articles posted to the web have been subject to tampering and alteration, requiring my constant monitoring.

   I am being isolated, in effect subject to what amounts to de facto house arrest. When I leave my home, I am stalked and followed. When I complain to authorities, they react as if I am somehow unstable or lacking credibility.
   Since I cannot get thru to ACLU in any other way, I am posting here publicly. May I please make an appointment with you so I can come to your offices to review this situation? I am certain that untold thousands of Americans are being similarly affected. Please read my articles, and please try to reach me at scrivener50.verizon.net (altho I am receiving few emails). It's not just surveillance; I believe that undercover agents are posing as people I try to reach.

   If you can see me, perhaps you could post a message to this board with a date and time and I will endeavor to be there. If you read my articles and the "comments" section you will have a fuller picture of my situation, and I am certain many others are being similarly persecuted. Please try to contact me. Thank you.

   Victor Livingston, journalist
   members.nowpublic.com/scrivener

3. Victor Livingston Says:
   Aug 12th, 2008 at 1:17pm

   Ms. Ito:

   My web page is at
   http://members.nowpublic.com/scrivener

   Thank you again.

4. AT Says:
   Aug 13th, 2008 at 1:06am

   The FBI Salt lake City field Office should do the HONEST thing and release my files as promised.After all , public fundings are being used to pay lawyers to do a DISHONEST act in UTAH?

5. Anonymous Says:
   Aug 15th, 2008 at 9:08am

   The FBI never borke any law. They are above the laws.

6. AT Says:
   Aug 15th, 2008 at 9:11am

   the FBI never willingly broke any law. They are above the laws.

7. AT Says:
   Aug 16th, 2008 at 12:15am

   the FBi always operate as Dick Cheney said, anonymously and on the dark side.

8. AT Says:
   Aug 27th, 2008 at 10:58pm

   Someone hit and run my car today. Is it an accident or man-made?

9. AT Says:
   Sep 9th, 2008 at 10:19am

   Is diverting (tampering) and theft of US mail breaking the laws?

10. AT Says:
    Sep 11th, 2008 at 12:10am

    The FBI like to use as collaborators through pay or threats or blackmail(this can be proven) mentally handicapped persons or minors so they could be easily manipulated. Senator McCain supported the rights of child molesters today. What a promise and coincidence.

11. AT Says:
    Feb 8th, 2009 at 7:28pm

    The FBI is playing, some one with that kind of history, the race card

12. george washinton Says:
    Apr 25th, 2009 at 8:36pm

    president bush the hitler of today.
    and in the bible it says a black leader will take us to the end of the world.(obama)