Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 13:28:06 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <200201241828.NAA13864@mattababy.mit.edu>
From: belmonte@mit.edu (Matthew Belmonte)
To: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov
Subject: Oppose Attempts to Allow Unchecked Domestic Spying!

Mr Ashcroft:

I am concerned about your plan to relax the guidelines that currently prohibit
the FBI to engage in unchecked domestic spying.  These restrictions were put in
place three decades ago, after it came to light that Richard Nixon, J Edgar
Hoover, and other government officials had been using the FBI to spy on leaders
of the civil rights and anti-war movements and on political adversaries.  By
allowing the United States to return to this deplorable strategy of harassment
and suspicionless surveillance, your plan would destroy the very freedom that
you claim to be working to protect.

Again, I urge you not to relax the domestic surveillance guidelines.

I look forward to hearing you thoughts on this important matter.

Matthew Belmonte
[address]