http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/13100383.htm?source=yahoodist&content=ksc_newsWASHINGTON - Lawmakers expressed concern Sunday that the FBI wasaggressively pushing the powers of the anti-terrorist USA Patriot Act toaccess private phone and financial records of ordinary people."We should be looking at that very closely," said Sen. Joseph Biden, aDemocrat from Delaware, who is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee."It appears to me that this is, if not abused, being close to abused."Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican from Nebraska, and a member of the SenateIntelligence Committee, agreed, saying the government's expanded powerhighlights the risks of balancing national security against individualrights."It does point up how dangerous this can be," said Hagel, who appeared withBiden on ABC's "This Week."Under the Patriot Act, the FBI issues more than 30,000 national securityletters allowing the investigations each year, The Washington Post reportedSunday, quoting unnamed government sources.The security letters, which were first used in the 1970s, allow access tophone and e-mail records, as well as financial data and the Internet sitesthey surf.The 2001 Patriot Act removed the requirement that the records sought bethose of someone under suspicion.As a result, FBI agents can review the digital records of a citizen as longas the bureau can certify that the person's records are "relevant" to aterrorist investigation.Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said Sunday that he could notimmediately confirm or dispute the 30,000 figure, but he said the power touse the security letters was justified.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------aa #2133ap #19
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