CIA Using National Security Letters in Domestic Investigations

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The Central Intelligence Agency is using National Security Letters, authorized by the USA Patriot Act, to obtain financial information on U.S. residents. The letters come with “gag orders” on the recipients. In some cases, recipients cannot keep a copy of the letter or take notes on the information provided, according to the ACLU, which obtained heavily redacted copies of the letters in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. A CIA spokesman said use of letters came in counterterrorism investigations and was occasional. (1/25/08)