I can’t believe I missed this:

Mueller told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee he hopes that the reauthorization of two provisions would be far less controversial than in previous years. One of those provisions, which helps authorities secure access to business records, “has been exceptionally helpful in our national security investigations,” he said.

In response to a question from Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), Mueller said that his agents had used the provision about 220 times between 2004 and 2007. Data for last year were not yet available, he said.

The measure allows investigators probing terrorism to seek a suspect’s records from third parties such as financial services and travel and telephone companies without notifying the suspect. The American Civil Liberties Union has criticized the provision, saying it violates the First Amendment rights of U.S. citizens.

Senator Obama was ripped by Kos for his vote on FISA and I believe that the Administration and Congress will renew this part of the PATRIOT Act as well.  Naturally, the Kos Kreeps are already turning on the heat, although they’re blaming Mueller instead of Obama; apparently not aware that the FBI answers to the White House, not the Crawford Ranch.

Consider this a Fall preview of an exciting epic miniseries to come.

Washington Post