Originally published February 23 2006
ACLU upset by new powers given to Secret Service
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Lisa Graves, senior counsel for legislative strategy at the ACLU, discusses the alarming powers the new and improved Patriot Act has bestowed upon the Secret Service.
A new provision tucked into the Patriot Act bill now before Congress would allow authorities to haul demonstrators at any "special event of national significance" away to jail on felony charges if they are caught breaching a security perimeter.
Arlen Specter, R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sponsored the measure, which would extend the authority of the Secret Service to allow agents to arrest people who willingly or knowingly enter a restricted area at an event, even if the president or other official normally protected by the Secret Service isn't in attendance at the time.
"It's definitely problematic and chilling," said Lisa Graves, senior counsel for legislative strategy at the American Civil Liberties Union, which has written letters to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, pointing out that the provision wasn't subject to hearings or open debate.
But not everyone agrees that rights are being trampled on by the additional provision.
In fact, some say the ACLU is the problem when it comes to protecting national security.
This is just more hatred of (President) Bush."
Under current law, the Secret Service can arrest anyone for breaching restricted areas where the president or a protected official is or will be visiting, but the new provision would allow such arrests even after those VIPs have left the premises of any designated "special event of national significance."
According to government sources with knowledge of the legislation, Secret Service protection and law enforcement authority would extend beyond protecting a specific person, rather the event itself would become the "protectee."
"President Bush is committed to protecting the American people's national security as well as their civil liberties," she said.
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