Excessive power

Saturday, June 11, 2005

If enacted, new legislation would effectively give license for the FBI to examine whatever it wishes. Granting the FBI in national security investigations so- called "administrative subpoena" powers would allow the FBI to write its own search and disclosure orders with no judicial approval.

There seems to be a push to enact meaningful checks and balances to Patriot Act powers to protect against government abuse. Administrative subpoenas would represent a new, unchecked power. The attorney general supports amendments to strengthen judicial oversight of orders under Section 215 of the Patriot Act, but authorization of administrative subpoenas would move radically in the opposite direction.

The FBI already has far-reaching powers to obtain any relevant information when investigating terrorism. The government has failed to show that these powers are insufficient. In fact, it has often praised the Patriot Act as providing the tools to prevent terrorism and to prosecute terrorism-related cases. Based on these broad powers and widespread public and congressional concern that some Patriot Act powers are immune from sufficient checks and balances, there is no reason to expand the FBI's authority.

Aref Assaf, Denville

The writer is president of the American Arab Forum of New Jersey