Ashcroft: Patriot Act no threat to citizens’ rights

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft defended the Patriot Act on Friday during a visit to the Valley, saying it presents no danger to the rights of lawabiding citizens.

"The Patriot Act itself is replete . . . it is overlapping with protections against abuse,’’ he said. Speaking in Phoenix, Ashcroft said most of the authority granted to the government under the law generally requires a court order by a judge who has considered the facts and circumstances.

He also said there are provisions for congressional oversight.

But Rep. Raul Grijalva, DAriz., in a response coordinated by the Arizona Democratic Party, said the act is overly broad and infringes on civil liberties.

The attorney general’s comments came one day after the administration fought off an amendment to block government access to library and bookstore records. Grijalva voted to curb the law.

The amendment, opposed by Ashcroft, was defeated on a 210-210 tie vote. But that came only after House leadership kept the vote open longer than the rules permit to allow lobbying to get some supporters to change their votes.

It also came as Congress is gearing up for a broader fight on the future of the law. Enacted after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, it has to be renewed next year or it will expire.

Ashcroft said the Patriot Act contains many vital provisions. For example, he said, prior to Sept. 11, the FBI and CIA were unable to share intelligence information.

He also said the law permits automated switching of tapped lines from an office phone to a cell phone. Ashcroft said there has been a similar provision in federal drug laws for more than 20 years.

Grijalva said some provisions of the Patriot Act are necessary.

"But when the law sunsets, it should sunset and a new law needs to be put in place now that we’ve learned over three years what we need to do,’’ he said.

He disputed Ashcroft’s assertion that Congress monitors what the Department of Justice does with its powers under the law. "There has been no congressional oversight over the implementation of the Patriot Act and over the activities of the Justice Department,’’ he said.

But Ashcroft said Congress gets "comprehensive reports’’ twice a year so lawmakers can supervise what is occurring. "Not a single abuse has been found by the Congress of the Patriot Act as it’s been put in place and constituted,’’ he said.

Ashcroft also said the law permits citizens to sue if there have been abuses.