WASHINGTON — House Judiciary Committee leaders on Tuesday introduced a bill to place new restrictions on government surveillance and seizures in anti-terrorism investigations, while allowing the Obama administration to continue some tactics used by its predecessor.
Three important sections of the USA Patriot Act, designed to prevent a terrorist attack on the homeland, will expire at year’s end, unless Congress continues them. The bill, sponsored by three liberal Democrats, only would renew two of them.
The proposal would eliminate the government’s authority to spy on a “lone wolf,” a non-U.S. citizen suspected of terrorism who may not be part of a recognized terrorist group. The Justice Department said the government has never used this authority but wants to keep it available.
The other two provisions would continue with modifications.
Roving wiretaps still would be allowed, to permit surveillance on multiple phones when a suspect keeps switching cell phones. The bill would restrict surveillance to a single, identifiable target.
And the government still could obtain a court order to seize documents and other tangible items, including business records. The bill would require the government to produce specific facts, to show the items are relevant to an authorized investigation.
Florida: Moon rocket test
NASA’s new rocket arrived at a Cape Canaveral launching pad Tuesday for a test flight next week. The rocket is supposed to eventually carry astronauts to the moon. The experimental Ares I rocket, taller than the Statue of Liberty, will blast off Tuesday on a 2½-minute ballistic flight to demonstrate how the partial first stage performs. It’s costing NASA $445 million.
California: Wildfire charges
A prison inmate was indicted Tuesday on murder and arson charges in a 2003 wildfire in the mountains above San Bernadino that destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and was linked to a half-dozen heart attack deaths. Rickie Lee Fowler, 28, is serving time in state prison for burglary. New evidence obtained as recently as three weeks ago helped prosecutors identify Fowler as a suspect, a deputy district attorney said.
Nevada: Driver crashes into home, pins sleeping couple
Sparks police arrested a driver Tuesday who they say crashed his car through a wall and into the bedroom of a house early in the morning, pinning a sleeping couple underneath. It took firefighters and police about 40 minutes to free the couple, who were said to have minor injuries, by using use of air bags and hydraulic rescue equipment. Police said the driver was being investigated on suspicion of drunken-driving.
Vatican: Anglican provision
The Vatican is making it easier for Anglicans to convert to Roman Catholicism, a surprise move designed to entice traditionalists opposed to women priests, openly gay clergy and the blessing of same-sex unions. The change means Anglicans from around the world will be able to join the Catholic Church while retaining aspects of their Anglican liturgy and identity, including married priests. Until now, disaffected Anglicans had joined the church primarily on a case by case basis.
Pakistan: School blast kills 4
Suicide bombers attacked an Islamic university popular with foreigners in Pakistan’s capital Tuesday, killing four students in apparent retaliation for an escalating army offensive on a Taliban and al-Qaida stronghold near the Afghan border. The suicide bombers hit a faculty building and a women’s cafeteria at the International Islamic University, where nearly half the students are women and hundreds are foreigners. The two attackers were also killed, officials said.
From Herald news services
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