(2007-03-14) Ig Patriot Abuses Fbi

The Department Of Justice Inspector General released a report (PDF) on FBI mis-uses of the Patriot Act. FBI agents sometimes demanded the data without proper authorization, according to a 126-page audit by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine. At other times, the audit found, the FBI improperly obtained telephone records in nonemergency circumstances. The audit blames agent error and shoddy record-keeping for the bulk of the problems and did not find any indication of criminal misconduct. Still, "We believe the improper or illegal uses we found involve serious misuses of National Security Letter (NSL) authorities," the audit concludes.