Warlady
10-26-2001, 06:14 AM
The Senate yesterday approved broad new police powers for the Justice Department, and Attorney General John Ashcroft vowed to begin using them against terrorists within an hour of President Bush signing the measure into law today.
The vote to give federal agents expanded surveillance and search powers was 98-1. The lone "no" vote was Sen. Russell D. Feingold, Wisconsin Democrat.
"On September 11th, almost 6,000 people lost their lives, and they lost their civil liberties," said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican. "It's our job to make sure nobody else loses their lives or their civil liberties."
Under the bill, federal authorities can detain illegal immigrants suspected of terrorism for up to seven days instead of the current 48 hours. Mr. Ashcroft wanted the power to detain such suspects indefinitely.
The measure also tightens money-laundering laws in an effort to dry up the illicit financial networks that fund terrorist operations. The Treasury Department could prohibit U.S. banks from doing business with foreign countries or banks deemed to present a major money-laundering threat.
The attorney general said he will order law enforcement to begin using the new powers today, immediately after Mr. Bush signs the measure into law.
"A new era in America's fight against terrorism is about to begin," said Mr. Ashcroft. "I will issue directives requiring law enforcement to make use of new powers in intelligence gathering, criminal procedure and immigration violations."
Mr. Bush applauded the passage of the bill and repeated his pledge to sign it "so that we can combat terrorism and prevent future attacks."
The House approved the package Wednesday by a vote of 357 to 66, after negotiators agreed on a provision that requires expanded wiretap powers to expire after four years unless Congress specifically acts to renew the legislation. The administration opposed such a "sunset" provision; the House wanted a two-year expiration date.
Investigators will be able to read e-mail, collect data on computers and track suspects via the Internet. The legislation also triples funding, to $400 million, for guarding the 4,000-mile-long border with Canada.
Mr. Ashcroft and the administration had asked for the expanded authority immediately after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But lawmakers moved deliberately, with liberals and conservatives alike expressing concern about infringing on civil liberties.
In the end, only Mr. Feingold in the Senate felt the law went too far. He said it places the burden on "innocent associates" of terrorists to prove they were not involved in a plot or face deportation.
Click to read the rest (http://www.washtimes.com/national/20011026-734714.htm)
The vote to give federal agents expanded surveillance and search powers was 98-1. The lone "no" vote was Sen. Russell D. Feingold, Wisconsin Democrat.
"On September 11th, almost 6,000 people lost their lives, and they lost their civil liberties," said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican. "It's our job to make sure nobody else loses their lives or their civil liberties."
Under the bill, federal authorities can detain illegal immigrants suspected of terrorism for up to seven days instead of the current 48 hours. Mr. Ashcroft wanted the power to detain such suspects indefinitely.
The measure also tightens money-laundering laws in an effort to dry up the illicit financial networks that fund terrorist operations. The Treasury Department could prohibit U.S. banks from doing business with foreign countries or banks deemed to present a major money-laundering threat.
The attorney general said he will order law enforcement to begin using the new powers today, immediately after Mr. Bush signs the measure into law.
"A new era in America's fight against terrorism is about to begin," said Mr. Ashcroft. "I will issue directives requiring law enforcement to make use of new powers in intelligence gathering, criminal procedure and immigration violations."
Mr. Bush applauded the passage of the bill and repeated his pledge to sign it "so that we can combat terrorism and prevent future attacks."
The House approved the package Wednesday by a vote of 357 to 66, after negotiators agreed on a provision that requires expanded wiretap powers to expire after four years unless Congress specifically acts to renew the legislation. The administration opposed such a "sunset" provision; the House wanted a two-year expiration date.
Investigators will be able to read e-mail, collect data on computers and track suspects via the Internet. The legislation also triples funding, to $400 million, for guarding the 4,000-mile-long border with Canada.
Mr. Ashcroft and the administration had asked for the expanded authority immediately after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But lawmakers moved deliberately, with liberals and conservatives alike expressing concern about infringing on civil liberties.
In the end, only Mr. Feingold in the Senate felt the law went too far. He said it places the burden on "innocent associates" of terrorists to prove they were not involved in a plot or face deportation.
Click to read the rest (http://www.washtimes.com/national/20011026-734714.htm)