Rep. Nadler Welcomes FBI Action on National Security Letter

Withdrawal of NSL Shows Need for Legislative Fix

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today welcomed the FBI’s withdrawal of a National Security Letter (NSL) that had been issued to the Internet Archive.  The government’s action was the result of a legal challenge filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union, and permits the NSL recipient to speak about the case.

“Our law enforcement should have the tools they need to protect us, but any such powers must be consistent with the Constitution,” said Rep. Nadler. “This lawsuit – and others like it – has made it clear that the NSL authority has been used improperly and that some of its provisions are overbroad.  Congress must bring clarity to the law to ensure that our law enforcement focuses its efforts on real threats and protects our fundamental freedoms.”

Rep. Nadler, along with Reps. Jeff Flake (AZ-06), William Delahunt (MA-10) and Ron Paul (TX-14), has introduced H.R. 3189, the National Security Letters Reform Act of 2007.  This bipartisan bill would provide crucial checks against the unprecedented and dangerous NSL authority vastly expanded by the Patriot Act.  Specifically, the bill would give a NSL recipient the right to challenge the letter and its nondisclosure requirement, and would place a time limit on the NSL gag order and allow for court approved extensions.