Senate panel endorses expanded FBI subpoena power under Patriot Act News
Senate panel endorses expanded FBI subpoena power under Patriot Act

[JURIST] The US Senate Intelligence Committee [official website] late Tuesday approved revisions to the Patriot Act [text] which would expand the FBI's power to subpoena records [JURIST report] in terrorism investigations without receiving the approval of a judge or grand jury. US Senator Dianne Feinstein [official website] voted against the bill since it contained no amendments preventing the power from being used in criminal investigations as opposed to solely the collection of intelligence. The bill will next be considered before the Senate Judiciary Committee [official website] where Feinstein and other Democrats plan to propose their amendments again. The American Civil Liberties Union has released a statement [press release] condemning the bill and the "behind closed doors" manner in which it was written. AP has more.