Well, now the Los Angeles Times is hopping on the bandwagon of blaming Ashcroft for Reno's sins. The editorial of 9 September (registration required) contains this snippet:
In May, for instance, judges on the secret federal court that approves classified wiretaps and searches in terrorism and espionage cases blasted Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft for the FBI's use of false information in dozens of requests for top-secret warrants.
While is is factually correct (the judges addressed their findings to Ashcroft, the current Attorney General), it is misleading, because the 75 wiretaps in question were conducted prior to September 2000. Ashcroft was still a senator at that time.
Of course, there are plenty of reasons to dislike Ashcroft and his detemined efforts to expand the FBI's surveillance powers, but it would be nice if the Times would stick to blaming Ashcroft for what he has done, not what others have done.
posted on September 09, 2002 12:22 PM
