It appears that Russia is not the only country with freedom of press issues.
The Intercept published its story in June of 2016 with heavily redacted information; even between the black bars of governmental secrecy, a worrisome picture emerged. The article reveals the Federal Bureau of Investigation, using National Security Letters, regularly spies on journalists in the United States – without a warrant, probable cause, or constitutional authority. This week Intercept republished the story but this time offered the full, un-redacted, still classified documents, showing the entirety of the FBI’s program.
Getting around the standard rules of investigation is relatively simple for FBI officials; they merely need to invoke the phrase “relevant to a national security investigation.” In the name of protecting Americans, it seems any violation of Constitutional rights is permitted.
Don’t believe it? Try getting on a commercial flight without having a host of rights violated by a government agent who, statistically speaking, is poorly educated, poorly trained, and may be looking at how much cash you are carrying. After all, the ATF may have promised the agent a cut of whatever he helps the agency seize.
