The USA PATRIOT Act (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) was signed into law on October 26, 2001. The law was submitted to Congress by the Bush Administration on September 24th, just 13 days after the attack. Two of the Senators who attempted to slow passage of the bill, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, were targeted with letters containing weaponized anthrax delivered to their offices on October 9. Russ Feingold was the only member of the Senate to vote against it. This act severely limits our civil liberties and freedoms as Americans:

• Freedom of Association: Government may monitor religious and political institutions without suspecting criminal activity to assist terror investigations.
• Freedom of Information: Government has closed once-public immigration hearings, has secretly detained hundreds of people without charges, and has encouraged bureaucrats to resist public records requests.
• Freedom of Speech: Government may prosecute librarians or keepers of any other records if they tell anyone that the government subpoenaed information related to terror investigations.
• Right to Legal Representation: Government may monitor federal prison jailhouse conversations between attorneys and clients, and deny lawyers to US citizens accused of crimes.
• Freedom from Unreasonable Searches: Government may search and seize papers and effects owned by citizens without probable cause to assist terror investigations.
• Right to a Speedy and Public Trial: Government may jail anyone indefinitely without a trial, including US citizens. Right to Liberty: Anyone may be jailed without being charged or being able to confront witnesses against them.

BACK   |   TOP   |   NEXT