FBI Seeks Sweeping New Powers

The Nation by Aziz Huq | Aug. 23, 2008 (Special Report)

In June, the bureau issued guidance to local law enforcement agencies about "suspicious activity" to be recorded and shared with federal authorities. The list includes First Amendment-protected activities, such as expressing "extremist views" and "affiliation" with "extremist organizations." Proposed new regulations would loosen limits on federal-state information sharing by eliminating the requirement that agencies state a reason to know information. Full Story »

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by Stephen Pizzo - Oct. 1, 2008

This story should have delved back into the days when the FBI had these kind of powers, and more. That would have been during the Nixon/Johnson years. I know because I was one of the leaders of the San Francisco anti-war movement and had my own FBI detail assigned to me. They intercepted my mail, they sabotaged my car, twice (the wheels fell off) and they generally made themselves as annoying and intrusive as possible. I think if the press reminded people of what it was like then the public would be more upset about reinstating such powers.