--- Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2002 11:52:46 -0400 To: declanat_private From: Marc Rotenberg <rotenbergat_private> Subject: IDOF Letters on AG Guidelines Thanks for your help yesterday. Before you take off, could you please post the following to your list? A similar letter went to Leahy and Hatch. Both are online at indefenseoffreedom.org Regards, Marc. --------------------------------------------------------- IDOF Letter, June 2002 Attorney General Guidelines June 4, 2002 Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary 2138 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515 Representative John Conyers U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary 2138 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515 Dear Chairman Sensenbrenner and Representative Conyers: We write to you on behalf of a broad range of organizations across the country about the decision of the Attorney General to loosen the guidelines that restrict the surveillance of religious and political organizations in the United States. This decision raises matters of Constitutional authority that require immediate Congressional attention. We do not believe that the Attorney General has the legal authority to pursue domestic spying. We urge you to conduct oversight hearings on the new guidelines. We are particularly concerned about elements of the guidelines that appear to give the FBI the authority to search through electronic databases without satisfying any legal standard or requiring any judicial review. Such an approach to police authority in the United States is directly contrary to the First and Fourth Amendment and the system of checks and balances established by our form of government. We are also concerned that the changes authorize unchecked surveillance of lawful religious and political activity, and that such surveillance will be targeted against Arab- Americans, Muslim and immigrants among others. We urge you to convene a public hearing with the Attorney General so that the following issues may be addressed: - How will the changes proposed by the Attorney General impact the First Amendment freedoms of political and religious organizations in the United States? - What is the legal basis for the Attorney General's decision and how does this decision compare with his current authority? - What means of Congressional oversight will be created to prevent abuse and what means of public reporting will be established to ensure that the public is fully informed about these activities? - For what period of time does the Attorney General anticipate the FBI will operate with this authority? We would be pleased to work with you and your staff on this important matter. Sincerely, Marc Rotenberg Executive Director Electronic Privacy Information Center Nan Aron President Alliance for Justice Kareem Shora Legal Advisor American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Laura W. Murpphy Director Washington Office American Civil Liberties Union Paula Johnson Co-President American Law Teachers Emily Sheketoff, Executive Director American Library Association Washington Office Tom DeWeese President American Policy Center Amy Isaacs National Director, Americans for Democratic Action Majed Jafari Director, Government Relations Arab American Institute Margaret Fung Executive Director Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Kent Pollock Executive Director California First Amendment Coalition Nancy Chang Staff Attorney Center for Constitutional Rights James X. Dempsey Deputy Director Center for Democracy and Technology Jeff Chester Executive Director Center for Digital Democracy Kate Martin Director Center for National Security Studies Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney Christian Defense Coalition Ken McEldowney Executive Director Consumer Action Jason Erb Director, Governmental Relations Council on American-Islamic Relations Lee Tien Senior Staff Attorney Electronic Frontier Foundation Steven Aftergood Project Director Federation of American Scientists Kit Gage Director First Amendment Foundation and NCARL Florence C. Kimball Legislative Education Secretary Friends Committee on National Legislation David J. Theroux Founder and President The Independent Institute Mark Graham Institute for Global Communication Elisa Massimino Director, Washington office Lawyers Committee for Human Rights J. Daryl Byler, Director Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Washington Office James Landrith Editor & Publisher The Multiracial Activist Julian Bond Chairman NAACP Kit Gage National Coordinator National Coalition to Protect Political Freedom Heidi Boghosian Director National Lawyers Guild Dan Kesselbrenner Director National Immigration Project National Lawyers Guild Audrie Krause Director NetAction Morton H. Halperin Director Open Society Policy Center Ralph G. Neas President People For the American Way Deborah Pierce Executive Director Privacyactivism Beth Givens Executive Director Privacy Rights Clearinghouse [through June 3, 2002] -- ================================================================== Marc Rotenberg, exec director + +1 202 483 1140 (tel) Electronic Privacy Information Center + +1 202 483 1248 (fax) 1718 Connecticut Ave NW Suite 200 + rotenbergat_private Washington DC 20009 USA + http://www.epic.org ================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. 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