Senate Intel Cmte set for secret PATRIOT Act expansion

As the ACLU is reporting, the Senate Intelligence Committee will be holding a closed hearing on USA PATRIOT Act reauthorization on Thursday, May 19.

Our Washington sources report that not only are Senators on the committee planning to renew almost all of the handful of PATRIOT provisions that are set to "Sunset" at the end of 2005, but are also planning to expand many police-state PATRIOT powers as well.

On the drawing board are ideas to expand surveillance powers in so-called "terrorist" as well as criminal investigations. Administrative subpoenas, an instrument to circumvent judge-signed search warrants, are a particular favorite