EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE AT 5:00 AM
SUNDAY, MAY 2, 2004
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
AG
(202) 514-2008
TDD (202) 514-1888
STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN ASHCROFT ON THE RELEASE OF FISA INFORMATION TO CONGRESS:
“To keep the United States and its people safe, it is critical that the Department of Justice use every legal means to detect, deter and disrupt foreign terrorists and their activities here in America. As this report to Congress shows, the Department is deploying its legal resources to uncover and prevent terrorist attacks on Americans. We are acting judiciously and moving aggressively by seeking increased surveillance orders from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (FISA) Court.
“Compared to 2002, the Department sought 500 more orders for electronic surveillance and physical searches in 2003. The number of requests for FISA surveillance and search orders has almost doubled since 2001. These court-approved surveillance and search orders are vital to keeping America safe from terror. I thank the Court for its dedication and efforts on behalf of the American public, and for working with the Justice Department throughout the FISA process.”
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04-294