Senators object to new FBI rules
Proposed rules to help the FBI catch terrorists could lead to innocent Americans being spied upon by government agents or informants “without any basis for suspicion,” four Democratic senators said.
The rules, known as the attorney general guidelines, have not been approved or even publicly released yet, but the four joined a growing chorus of lawmakers raising concerns after being briefed on what the guidelines say.
Among their fears: Americans could be targeted in part based on their race, ethnicity, religion or free speech.
The four Democrats -- Sens. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, Russell D. Feingold of Wisconsin, Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island -- asked Atty. Gen. Michael B. Mukasey to hold off finalizing the rules to allow a public review.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) and the panel’s top Republican, Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, also called for delaying the guidelines.
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