WHY FBI INTELLIGENCE SUBPOENAS THREATEN CIVIL LIBERTIES

The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has reported out a bill, S. 1266, that threatens civil liberties because it authorizes the FBI to issue so-called “”administrative subpoenas”” in intelligence investigations “”to protect against”” international terrorism or spying for any records or other materials it considers relevant to its intelligence probe. These special, secret subpoenas would be issued without any accountability to a judge, unless challenged by the recipient. If S. 1266 is enacted, these secret FBI subpoenas would dramatically alter the balance between government power and individual liberty. Congress has rejected such powers for the FBI in the past. It should do so again.

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