Gonzales calls Senate Patriot Act legislation too restrictive News
Gonzales calls Senate Patriot Act legislation too restrictive

[JURIST] US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales [official profile] has openly criticized the Senate version of the USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005 [PDF text; bill summary] which was unanimously approved [JURIST report] last month. Gonzales told Washington Post reporters Monday that the legislation contained "certain provisions….that make it more difficult to protect our country" against future terrorist attacks. The Senate version of the Patriot Act [PDF text] renewal has several restrictions on the FBI's powers, including the ability of investigators to conduct secret searches, obtain business – including library – records and obtain "roving wiretaps" in terrorism investigations. Gonzales' statements are the first from an administration official to explicitly criticize the Senate bill, though the Justice Department has made it clear that it prefers the more lenient version passed by the House [JURIST report]. Tuesday's Washington Post has more.

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