In Shift, Govt Admits Patriot Act Used on Non-Terrorists

For months, Ashcroft has claimed Patriot Act opponents are hysterically claiming that the Patriot Act is being used on a regular basis and that in reality the Patriot Act is only used on "terrorists".

For months, Ashcroft has claimed Patriot Act opponents are hysterically claiming that the
Patriot Act is being used on a regular basis and that in reality the Patriot Act is
only used on "terrorists".

Well, it turns out that now, embattled on both their left and right flanks, the Justice
department is seeking rightist support for the Patriot Act by claiming that, as a matter
of fact, the Patriot Act is a useful tool regularly used in fighting
nonterrorist crime.

"The government is using its expanded authority under the far-reaching law to investigate
suspected drug traffickers, white-collar criminals, blackmailers, child pornographers,
money launderers, spies and even corrupt foreign leaders, federal officials said."

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/28/politics/28LEGA.html

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