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Friday, September 19, 2003

Attorney General John Ashcroft defended the USA Patriot Act on Thursday, blasting critics who say the law allows the government to spy on libraries and bookstores.

Ashcroft said "we just don't care" what Americans are reading and buying. He singled out the American Library Association and its supporters who claim the law infringes on civil liberties.

The Department of Justice has never used the powers under the act to investigate libraries, according to an internal memo Ashcroft released as part of his Patriot Act campaign. DOJ has set up a web site as Ashcroft tours the country to tout the law.

Ashcroft has made several appearances but some of the sessions have been closed to the public, and he has refused to speak to print media.

Get the Story:
Patriot Monitoring Claims Dismissed (The Washington Post 9/19)
Government Says It Has Yet to Use New Power to Check Library Records (The New York Times 9/19)
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Relevant LInks:
Life & Liberty, DOJ - http://www.lifeandliberty.gov

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