FBI complains about newspaper article

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Justice Department sent Congress a letter complaining of inaccuracies in a newspaper article about the FBI's powers regarding private records.

The FBI is able to gain access to financial transactions and Internet usage, among other data, through the use of so-called national security letters. The Washington Post on Nov. 6 reported the FBI has issued more than 30,000 of the letters a year. Congress is considering renewal of the USA Patriot Act, of which the letters are a part.

A letter from Assistant Attorney General William Moschella to the chairmen of the House and Senate judiciary committees said the article included inaccuracies and asked Congress not "let a distorted and misleading portrayal of the FBI's use of this vital investigative tool ...," the Post reported.

Post Executive Editor Leonard Downie was quoted in Wednesday's article about the letter as saying: "The (Nov. 6) story speaks for itself." He said the Justice Department didn't document any inaccuracies and asserts claims the original article did not make.