FBI admits Patriot Act snooping powers didn’t crack any major terrorism cases

FBI agents cannot name a single terrorism-related case that they have solved due to the NSA spying programs authorized in the Patriot Act. Why are we not surprised? From the Washington Times:

FBI agents can’t point to any major terrorism cases they’ve cracked thanks to the key snooping powers in the Patriot Act, the Justice Department’s inspector general said in a report Thursday that could complicate efforts to keep key parts of the law operating.

Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz said that between 2004 and 2009, the FBI tripled its use of bulk collection under Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which allows government agents to compel businesses to turn over records and documents, and increasingly scooped up records of Americans who had no ties to official terrorism investigations.

Right now the Senate is scheduled to take up legislation that would extend these allegedly “critical” spying powers. It is vital that your Senators hear from you that you oppose any legislation that extends the Patriot Act, including the USA Freedom Act.