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Statement of U. S. Senator Dick Durbin Regarding Department of Justice's Inpsector General Report on the Patriot Act

Date: March 9, 2007
Issues: National Security


STATEMENT OF U.S. SENATOR DICK DURBIN REGARDING DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT ON THE PATRIOT ACT

Friday, March 9, 2007

"In late 2005, I requested that the U.S. Department of Justice investigate the use of National Security Letters and other powers granted under the USA Patriot Act."

"The Justice Department's own investigation, which is now concluded, confirms the American people's worst fears about the Patriot Act. It appears that the Administration has used these powers without even the most basic regard for the privacy of innocent Americans. This demonstrates the need for reasonable reforms to the Patriot Act that the bipartisan SAFE Act coalition proposed years ago."

"I voted for the original Patriot Act in 2001 and I voted to reauthorize it last year, because I believe we should give the government all the tools it needs to fight terrorism. However, I continue to believe that the Patriot Act must include reasonable checks and balances to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans."

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http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=270415

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