Justice Dept OKs Data On US Citizens To Be Held Longer

New Jersey Mailbox Covered
During 2001 Anthrax Scare

According to a story in today's Washington Post, the Justice Department has approved guidelines which permit extended government retention of data on US citizens. The previous guidelines held that information could be held by the National Counterrorism Center for 180 days.

One issue is that gathered and retained data may involve Americans who are not suspected of terrorist activities or who might provide a trail to "people of interest."

A curious angle to this ruling is that the Obama administration has gone beyond its predecessor in limiting civil liberties in alleged or actual investigations of "terrorist activity." One wonders why an expert on Constitutional law and a former community organizer, such as Barack Obama was, would encourage his attorney general to formulate guidelines that add a creepy layer to domestic law enforcement.