FBI secretly sought the phone records of 3,501 people in this country.

The Department of Justice says it secretly sought phone records and other documents of 3,501 people last year under a provision of the Patriot Act that does not require judicial oversight.

The records were obtained with the use of what are known as National Security Letters, which can be signed by an FBI agent and are only for use in terrorism cases.

The letters require telephone companies to keep secret even the existence of the request for records.

Assistant Attorney General William Moschella told Congress last month that 9,254 National Security Letters were issued in 2005 involving 3,501 people.

Federal law enforcement sources say the National Security Letters are being used to obtain phone records of reporters at ABC News and elsewhere in an attempt to learn confidential sources who may have provided classified information in violation of the law.

The FBI says its request for reporters' phone records are made in compliance with the law.

So these letters are just available to any FBI agent who thinks he might have a line on a terrorist? You know there is a reason that the police have to get a judges order to search a private residence. Because the cop in his excitement over catching a criminal might get carried away and cut some corners in gaining access to the residence. By involving a judge who is not part of the investigation they get a legal mind with a different perspective and the added advantage of not being caught up in the bust to determine the legality of the search. It is system that helps to limit the number of offenses against our civil rights.

If the police have to follow this procedure then why can't the FBI? And are they saying that we have 3,501 potential terrorists in this country? Because that would be fucking scary!

I found today that both Verizon and Bellsouth are denying that they volunteered their phone records to the NSA. I think the following statement might be how they are justifying this denial:

The letters require telephone companies to keep secret even the existence of the request for records.

So they are apparently legally bound to lie about this this program. Isn't that interesting?