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Friday, March 09, 2007
House intelligence chair calls for hearings on FBI practices
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, called a Justice Department inspector general's findings on the FBI use of national security letters "highly troubling" Friday and pledged to hold committee hearings to investigate the matter.

"The American people expect their government, and particularly their law enforcement agencies, to follow the law and protect their privacy and liberties. Congress must now do its job and conduct vigorous oversight of this situation," Reyes said in a statement.

The audit looked at the FBI's use of national security letters (NSLs), in which agents demand personal and business information about individuals -- such as financial, phone, and Internet records -- without court orders.

The audit found the letters were issued without proper authority, cited incorrect statutes or obtained information they weren't supposed to.

  • Document: Executive summary of report
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