FBI Investigative Guidelines

The Justice Department and FBI, last week, re-announced plans to implement new guidelines extending agency investigatory powers relating to terrorism. The University of Pittsburgh’s Jurist relates that “the plan calls for a merging of the Guidelines on General Crimes, National Security Investigative Guidelines, and the confidential Supplemental Foreign Intelligence Guidelines.

Senate Judiciary Committee leaders Arlene Specter and Patrick Leahy wrote Attorney General Michael Mukasey last month, asking the implementation be postponed until after Congress had had a chance to review changes. That letter was accompanied in proximity with one from four other members of that committee. Mukasey had defended the proposed guidelines before the Senate Judiciary Committee the first part of last month, but agreed. ( See Previous Post )

“Review of the guidelines generated intense interest and occasional criticism from lawmakers & others over the summer,” the New York Times said Monday, “and the Justice Department took the unusual step last Friday of holding briefings for reporters & civil rights advocates, showing them the draft plan.” The article said the guidelines were likely to be made final soon after FBI Director Robert Mueller’s testimonies before the House and Senate Judiciary Committees yesterday and today.

Also, a letter from House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Crime Subcommittee Chairman Robert Scott, and Constitution Subcommittee Chairman Jerrold Nadler back on Sept. 5th. had asked Director Mueller to consider questions including the FBI’s anthrax investigation, its approach to the mortgage fraud crisis, and the expanded investigative & intelligence gathering powers prior to its hearing. (Press Release)