FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Raj Bharwani

July 17, 2007 (202) 225-5101

Sensenbrenner Demands Answers

to Justice Department’s Probing of Milwaukee FBI Offices
(Washington, DC) – Menomonee Falls Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner fired off a
letter today to Alberto Gonzales, Attorney General of the United States, and Robert
Mueller, Director of the FBI, after recent press reports indicated that the FBI has engaged
in a pattern of misuse of National Security Letters.

Over the course of the past four months, the Justice Department has been looking into
problems at five FBI field offices in the US, including in Milwaukee. Allegations of
sloppy mistakes and possible violations encroaching on people’s privacy rights spurred
the Sensenbrenner letter, which was also copied to Steven M. Biskupic, US Attorney for
the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

In the letter, Congressman Sensenbrenner writes, “I would like to know what types of
abuses were found at the FBI’s field office in Milwaukee. Given the increased risk
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff believes that we face this summer, it is
imperative that the FBI follow the law so as not to jeopardize our national security.”

“The FBI is entrusted with a great responsibility, and it does not have the luxury of being
sloppy,” said Sensenbrenner. “I appreciate the gravity of the task faced by the FBI, but if
the agency loses the faith of the American public because of an apparent overreach of
power, then that will jeopardize its ability to be effective in protecting us from the bad
guys.”

“I hope the Justice Department’s review of the FBI offices is thorough, and I anticipate a
prompt reply to my letter,” Sensenbrenner concluded.

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