San Francisco, CA - Last week, House Republicans circulated draft legislation that contains provisions from the never-introduced "Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003," otherwise known as "PATRIOT II." The draft legislation is meant to implement intelligence reforms recommended by the 9/11 Commission Final Report. But its reach goes far beyond those recommendations -- including adding provisions that would allow federal agents to use secret foreign intelligence warrants and wiretap orders against suspects unconnected to any terrorist group or foreign nation.

"The 9/11 Commission's recommendations should not be used as a Trojan horse to introduce broad new police powers," says Kevin Bankston, EFF attorney and Equal Justice Works/Bruce J. Ennis fellow. "Trying to slip controversial 'PATRIOT II' provisions into the intelligence reform bill needlessly politicizes what has so far been a bipartisan effort to improve the performance of our nation's intelligence-gathering agencies."

Contact:

Kevin Bankston
Attorney, Equal Justice Works / Bruce J. Ennis Fellow
Electronic Frontier Foundation
bankston@eff.org