Alan Elsner, Reuters, 5/24/05
www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N24307625.htm

WASHINGTON - The FBI on Tuesday asked the U.S. Congress for sweeping new
powers to seize business or private records, ranging from medical
information to book purchases, to investigate terrorism without first
securing approval from a judge.

Valerie Caproni, FBI general counsel, told the U.S. Senate Intelligence
Committee her agency needed the power to issue what are known as
administrative subpoenas to get information quickly about terrorist plots
and the activities of foreign agents.

Civil liberties groups have complained the subpoenas, which would cover
medical, tax, gun-purchase, book purchase, travel and other records and
could be kept secret, would give the FBI too much power and could infringe
on privacy and free speech.

"This type of subpoena authority would allow investigators to obtain
relevant information quickly in terrorism investigations, where time is
often of the essence," Caproni testified.

The issue of administrative subpoenas dominated the hearing, which was
called to discuss reauthorization of clauses of the USA Patriot Act due to
expire at the end of this year. (MORE)

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