Chuck Lewis, executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity, joined Bill Moyers Friday, Feb. 8 on his PBS news show, NOW.
Lewis was interviewed regarding a confidential Justice Department document his organization had received. The document was a draft of a proposed Domestic Security Enhancement Act that would greatly expand the 'Patriot Act' (currently the subject of much criticism) rushed through Congress after Sept. 11, 2001. Lewis suggested the draft was possibly being kept under wraps with hopes of bypassing public discussion until it also could be rushed through when the war drums are sounded. The proposed act would expand secrecy and surveillance, returning previously legally contested powers to the various intelligence agencies making up the new homeland security group.
The draft proposes bypassing the courts in order to conduct surveillance—agencies would have access to an individual's e-mail, charge records, library records, telephone records, etc. They would also have the power to keep certain arrests secret. The penalties in some cases could be loss of citizenship. The increased assault on civil liberties and privacy would be without oversight, accountability or safeguards. Moyers said 'So many of these powers latent in this draft legislation were powers that were taken away from the intelligence community some years ago because they were abused.'
The text of the draft document is available on the PBS.org Web site along with a copy of a 'Control Sheet' dated Jan. 10 showing that copies had been provided to Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House, and Vice President Dick Cheney, with a request for comments by Jan. 13. In the interview transcript, also online, Lewis speculated that notifying these two men in lieu of the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee might be a way of saying Congress was consulted on the proposed legislation.
Also online is a statement from Barbara Comstock, director of public affairs, Department of Justice, dated Feb. 7, which concludes: 'It would be premature to speculate on any future decisions, particularly ideas or proposals that are still being discussed at staff levels.'
Moyers' interview extended to a discussion of roll backs on the freedom of information act, waivers of environmental laws, and detaining reporters in Afghanistan as additional concerns about the way this administration is conducting business.