FBI apologizes for improperly accessing reporters’ phone records.
By on Aug 9th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
FBI apologizes for improperly accessing reporters’ phone records.
The FBI yesterday revealed that in 2004, it improperly obtained the phone records of reporters for the New York Times and the Washington Post. Requiring such records requires the approval of the deputy attorney general, a procedure not followed in these cases. According to the New York Times, the “records were apparently sought as part of a terrorism investigation, but the F.B.I. did not explain what was being investigated or why the reporters’ phone records were considered relevant.”
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Afghanistan
Bachmann
Beck
Boehner
Bush
Cheney
Civil Rights
Congress
Corporate Ethics
Dobbs
Economy
Education
Election
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Gingrich
Global Warming
Health Care
Immigration
International Relations
Iraq
Justice
LGBT
Lieberman
Limbaugh
Maddow
McCain
Media
Military
Obama
Palin
Pelosi
Public Plan
Race
Radical Right
Religion
Sports
Steele
Steve King
Stimulus
Tea Parties
Technology
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
Next thing we’ll have Storm Troopers showing in the middle of the night. Jan 20th can’t get here soon enough
August 9th, 2008 at 4:02 pmAn apology just isn’t good enough.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:03 pmI’m not surprised at this at all–yet I have no sympathy for these newspapers and reporters either. They have held stories back from the public domain (see FISA for one example) and cooperated in everyway with this gang of thugs in DC.
If I want to know what is going on in the US, I go to foreign newspapers and sources that don’t worry about censorship. At this point, I have contempt for all journalists–they are lazy, and as complicit with this White House as can be. Screw all of them.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:06 pmI’m still waiting for someone to leak the story of how they tapped the phones/computers of political opponents.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:08 pmThe FBI has been tainted since its inception by…J. Edgar Hoover, lying scumbag, fascist, racist, self-hating and gay-baiting gay and RePugniScum founder!!!!!!!
August 9th, 2008 at 4:11 pmThis is kind of big a deal.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:14 pmIf you or I were to rob the Republican National Headquarters and were caught would we get by with just an apology. Even Nixon didn’t get away with it. What the hell has happened to this Country? I swear the name should be changed to the United States of the Fourth Reich.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:14 pmOh, well as long as they’re sorry!
We’re trampling on the constitution, but we don’t feel very good about it. Sorry!
Understate much?
PEACE
August 9th, 2008 at 4:16 pm“We Didn’t Do It And We’ll Never Do It Again” should be the FBI’s motto. Hoover’s been dead for over 35 years yet his ghost still seems to haunt the FBI across the board from illegal wiretapping and “misuse” of national security letters to just plain incompetence. I don’t get it!
August 9th, 2008 at 4:17 pmAnd guess what the FBI was founded on?
A child kidnapping case. (Lindberg(sic?))
The first evidence of RePugniScums using children as a reason to lock down our freedoms!!!
The FBI is a criminal empire!!!
August 9th, 2008 at 4:19 pmFBI: “Oops! Our bad.”
August 9th, 2008 at 4:19 pmThe FBI yesterday revealed that in 2004, it improperly obtained the phone records of reporters for the New York Times and the Washington Post. Requiring such records requires the approval of the deputy attorney general, a procedure not followed in these cases.
Shouldn’t it also require the permission of a judge?
August 9th, 2008 at 4:31 pmHaving lower level officials accept “responsibility” and apologize? Typical insular Bush.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:34 pmWayne A. Schneider Says:
Shouldn’t it also require the permission of a judge?
Oh, Wayne, you’re so cute! A judge? The FBI is part of the royal, er, unitary executive. They don’t need no steenkin’ judges!
August 9th, 2008 at 5:07 pmNo really, trust us….and don’t ask so many questions. We’re protecting America from terrists…
August 9th, 2008 at 5:09 pm…it improperly obtained the phone records of reporters for the New York Times and the Washington Post.
Which is another way of saying they broke the law. What is the punishment for breaking this law? And who, if anyone, should be punished? Just the ones who did the actual improper record-taking, or should their bosses also go to jail? Is anyone even going to lose his or her job over this?
August 9th, 2008 at 5:19 pm.
Due to National Security reasons, ALL Americans are to be presumed potential terrorist suspects and therefor are subject to searches and surveillance until they can exonerate themselves.
.
August 9th, 2008 at 5:23 pmDon’t you love all that FREEDOM??!!!
August 9th, 2008 at 5:23 pmFunky P Says:
I’m still waiting for someone to leak the story of how they tapped the phones/computers of political opponents.
Maybe in a book someone will profit off of.
August 9th, 2008 at 5:25 pm…“records were apparently sought as part of a terrorism investigation,
Yeah, a “terrorism” investigation. A convenient reason for anything un-Constitutional or improper.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
August 9th, 2008 at 5:27 pmsacopenapa Says:
Don’t you love all that FREEDOM??!!!
August 9th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
You can just smell it in the air!
August 9th, 2008 at 5:32 pmI find it telling that this information was released on a Friday, just as the Olympics were kicking off…
Huh??? Saaaaay… isn’t Britney Spears over there, sans panties?
That little minx… what will she do next???
Uh… what were we talking about?
August 9th, 2008 at 5:34 pmI wonder how much information the FBI has gathered on members of Congress to date?
Cheney set the bar pretty high…
August 9th, 2008 at 6:06 pmMax-1 Says:
Due to National Security reasons, ALL Americans are to be presumed potential terrorist suspects and therefor are subject to searches and surveillance until they can exonerate themselves.
____________
Saaaaaaaay… mebbe I can turn myself in fer tha reward!!!
August 9th, 2008 at 6:09 pmAn apology is not near enough. Heads should roll for this. They knew they were breaking the law and then they go oops…sorry about that. I DON’T THINK SO.
August 9th, 2008 at 6:09 pmLet us review. The FBI saw fit to illegally eavesdrop on reporters in order to “protect the Homeland”. Concurrently, if their story is to be believed, they allowed a guy they knew was a terrorist and killer to work in an Army weapons lab with access to weaponized anthrax and Lord knows what other lethal substances.
Am I the only one who thinks these two don’t add up?
August 9th, 2008 at 6:16 pmNo worries. Breaking the rule of law and the constitution is OK if you apologize for it later. /snark off
August 9th, 2008 at 6:16 pmThe Republic of Stupidity Says:
Saaaaaaaay… mebbe I can turn myself in fer tha reward!!!
August 9th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Um…heh heh…I already turned you in. Do you good in orange…?
August 9th, 2008 at 6:18 pmThat single mom in jail for writing a hot check to buy milk and bread for her babies just has no respect for real criminals.
August 9th, 2008 at 6:39 pmZoey Says:
Um…heh heh…I already turned you in. Do you good in orange…?
___________
Hah! The joke’s on you… I ain’t worth a dime to those guys, not a plugged nickel… nada, zippo… not a single stinkin’ pischtula… ah, hmmm… lemme think about this for a minute… I’ll get back to ya on this one…
August 9th, 2008 at 7:34 pmThe FBI meets Paris Hilton:
“umm so like y’know totally sorry! y’know!? like so-k? i see a so so cute shiny thing! so like k!? buhbye!”
Proudly we stand….
August 9th, 2008 at 7:43 pmRequiring such records requires the approval of the deputy attorney general, a procedure not followed in these cases.
We’re supposed to believe low level lackeys took it upon themselves to break the law without authorization.
Yeah, right.
August 9th, 2008 at 7:51 pmThe Republic of Stupidity Says:
Hah! The joke’s on you… I ain’t worth a dime to those guys, not a plugged nickel… nada, zippo… not a single stinkin’ pischtula… ah, hmmm… lemme think about this for a minute… I’ll get back to ya on this one…
August 9th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I don’t know…..my bank account is looking pretty flush right now…..
The post office in Gitmo is near the Navy Exchange. Drop me a note. :)
August 9th, 2008 at 7:57 pmZooey Says:
I don’t know…..my bank account is looking pretty flush right now…..
___________
Well, geez… that’s NOT what they told me… hmmm…
HEY!!! FBI dudes… it’s her… right there!!! THAT’S the one yer lookin’ fer…
Howdoyalikethemapples??? HaH!
August 9th, 2008 at 8:13 pmClearly, the terrorists really do hate us for our freedoms. Except that the terrorists reside in the white house.
August 9th, 2008 at 8:13 pmThe Republic of Stupidity Says:
Howdoyalikethemapples??? HaH!
August 9th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I prefer a nice wine, or cheese (individually wrapped for my protection). :)
Are you trying to throw me under the bus…?
August 9th, 2008 at 8:21 pmOooooooo… did someone mention cheese?
Hmmm… wonder if there’s any blubber bits around here…
August 9th, 2008 at 8:35 pmThere are always blubber bits — if you know where to look….
August 9th, 2008 at 8:38 pmOoooooo… sounds like a treasure hunt…
Hmmmm… where would those blubber bits be hidin?
August 9th, 2008 at 8:56 pmWell, a lot of them are in my spare room. :)
And in the FedEx warehouse.
August 9th, 2008 at 9:03 pmI kin understand yer spare bedroom… but wha’ the hey is Fedex doin’ hoardin’ lubber bits?
August 9th, 2008 at 9:23 pmThey are en route, polar bear!!!!!
August 9th, 2008 at 9:25 pmOooooooooooooo… fer ***moi***?
August 9th, 2008 at 9:28 pmNo, for Wolf Girl. She’s tired of lemmings.
:P
August 9th, 2008 at 9:31 pmWha>>>>>????
Wolf Girl????
You would waste ***Gasp!!!*** blubber bits on a “wolf”???
Heresy!!!!!!!
There’s a reason wolves eat lemmings… they don’t know any better…
August 9th, 2008 at 10:01 pmWell then, you better come get them. ;)
August 9th, 2008 at 10:03 pmHmmpf… I’m on my way…
***mutter… mutter***
Wasting perfectly good blubber bits on a <<>>… a WOLF!!!
Who ever heared of such a thing???????
August 9th, 2008 at 10:05 pmHeh.
August 9th, 2008 at 10:07 pmSaaaaaaaaaaay… are you tryin’ ta trick me???
August 9th, 2008 at 10:09 pmWell, I never….
If you don’t want the blubber bits, just say so. There’s always another polar bear in the sea….
August 9th, 2008 at 10:12 pmOh, I’ll take ‘em all righty… you’se kin never have enough blubber bits…
Wolves… humpf… other polar bears? Double humpf…
August 9th, 2008 at 10:17 pmMaybe I need to find a polar bear who will appreciate the blubber bits more….Hmmmmm?
August 9th, 2008 at 10:19 pmI’ll keep ‘em for ya. I know you live for ‘em. :)
August 9th, 2008 at 10:29 pmFind…a polar bear… who will appreciate blubber bits??? Humpf…
Blubber bits are “My Life”…
August 9th, 2008 at 10:56 pmI know. Forgive me.
**hanging head in shame**
August 9th, 2008 at 11:06 pm***Sniff… sniff***
Ya know, I may be a 900 lb carnivore ‘n one of the most feared predators in tha world, but I got feelins too… ’specially when it comes to blubber bits…
They’re Nature’s perfect foodstuff…
August 9th, 2008 at 11:19 pmOy…..are you trying to make me feel more guilty?
I’ve been working my fingers to the bone frying up those blubber bits — do you know what it takes to obtain said blubber for frying? And now FedEx says they aren’t delivering to your snow cave anymore because the delivery guys keep “disappearing.”
Know anything about that?
August 9th, 2008 at 11:27 pmAhhhhhhhhh, I haven’t hijacked a TP thread in soooo long.
It’s good. It really is. :-)
August 9th, 2008 at 11:46 pm***Buuuuurp***…
Tee hee… question is… what am I gonna do w/ all these Fedex uniforms???
Oooops… heh… didn’t realize anyone else was here…
Uh… it’s not what you think…
Really… I’m thinkin’ of applying fer a job… ‘n wanted to see how I’d look in one o’ these outfits…
August 10th, 2008 at 12:04 amHeh. That’s hot. ;)
Don’t take this wrong, but you might want to shop for a new FedEx uniform at the Big ‘n Tall polar bear shop….
August 10th, 2008 at 12:08 amIsn’t that sweet the fbi apologized for breaking the law.
August 10th, 2008 at 1:22 amDid they send a fruit basket also.
OK!!! OK!!! If I drag a fat gutted Republican and leave it by the cave can I have our thread back?
August 10th, 2008 at 2:04 amIf it’s really that important to you, Jess Wonderin.
Just make sure you post on topic at some point.
August 10th, 2008 at 3:06 amOh, I’d say there are untold numbers of phone records that were obtained by the FBI without the approval of the deputy AG. You think this is the only incident? Ha!
August 10th, 2008 at 8:13 amBad Eye Says:
Oh, I’d say there are untold numbers of phone records that were obtained by the FBI without the approval of the deputy AG. You think this is the only incident? Ha!
August 10th, 2008 at 8:13 am
To me the question we should be asking is, “How could a mere Deputy AG give permission to violate the Fourth Amendment and conduct a search without a warrant issued by a judge? When did EVER that become constitutional?”
August 10th, 2008 at 10:02 amFor those insisting that English be the universal language spoken in America, please note the following translation:
“FBI Apologizes” = “Fascists got caught”
August 10th, 2008 at 10:34 amRepulicans favorite word- Freedom
Republicans favorite pastime – Stiking Down the Bill of Rights
Those Silly mixed-up Repulicans
911=Inside Job
August 11th, 2008 at 9:31 amWho wants to bet that the real concern was which reporters were in contact with John Kerry. The FBI was simply doing political dirty tricks on behalf of George W. Bush. And it worked. The Swiftboat ads ran without much dissent from both the NYT’s WaPo. Intimidation works wonders.
August 11th, 2008 at 8:40 pmSpeaking of yerrorist attacks, howmany have there been?
August 14th, 2008 at 5:57 pmSpeaking of terrorist attacks, howmany have there been?
August 14th, 2008 at 5:58 pm