US Atty General Visits Little Rock, Defends Patriot Act
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
US Attorney General John Ashcroft visited Little Rock thursday to thank a group of police and sheriff`s deputies for keeping America safe.
Ashcroft attributes the national decline in crime and crackdown on terrorism to the nation`s police force.
Crime has fallen to a 30-year low, Ashcroft says.
Ashcroft also defended the government`s use of the Patriot Act, a measure signed into law after the Sept. 11th attacks.
The Patriot Act allows the use of roving wiretaps and delayed notification warrants.
The ACLU said it was a violation of civil liberties and denounced its use.
Ashcroft said the technology was already used against organized crime figures.
Reports detailing the use of the Patriot Act must be submitted to Congress twice a year, Ashcroft says.
262 people were criminally charged in connection with terrorists under the Patriot Act, Ashcroft says.
