New 'Patriot Act' under fire from civil rights groups
By Andrew Buncombe in Washington
11 February 2003
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=377327
THE INDEPENDENT
Civil rights campaigners have criticised proposals for a second "Patriot
Act" that would strengthen the already comprehensive powers of US law
enforcement agencies.
The original USA Patriot Act, passed in the autumn of 2001, granted sweeping
powers to the FBI and police to use information gathered from intelligence
agencies to monitor and spy on US citizens suspected of subversive
activities.
Proposals being drafted would expand those powers by authorising secret
arrests, compiling a new DNA data-base, extending the death penalty to more
offences, scrapping judicial oversight of police surveillance and removing
citizenship from those people who support groups not favoured by the
authorities.
Drafts of the proposals, entitled the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of
2003, have been circulating within the upper echelons of the Bush
administration for some weeks though they have not yet been formally
released.
Enough information has emerged to trigger concern among civil libertarians.
David Cole, a professor of law at Georgetown University and author of
Terrorism and the Constitution, has seen the draft legislation. He said it
"raises a lot of serious concerns. It's troubling that they have gotten this
far along and they've been telling people there is nothing in the works.
"By seeking to overturn court-approved limits against police spying on
political and religious activities, allowing for increased government
surveillance and the ability to wiretap without going to court, the latest
proposal would do serious harm to civil liberties in America."
Critics say John Ashcroft, the Attorney General, would, in effect, be handed
powers normally reserved for wartime. Gregory Nojeim, the associate director
of the American Civil Liberties Union said: "The initial Patriot Act
undercut many of the checks and balances on government power - the new
proposal threatens to fundamentally alter the constitutional protections
that allow us to be both safe and free."
The Justice Department insisted no decisions had been made. A spokesman
said: "It would be premature to speculate on future decisions, particularly
ideas that are still being discussed at staff levels."
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