FBI Gets Expanded Powers

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is giving significant new powers to its roughly 14,000 agents, allowing them more leeway to search databases, go through household trash or use surveillance teams to scrutinize the lives of people who have attracted their attention.  Valerie E. Caproni, the F.B.I. general counsel, said  the new manual would adjust the definition of assessments to make clear that they (the assessments) must be based on leads. But she rejected arguments that the F.B.I. should focus only on investigations that begin with a firm reason for suspecting wrongdoing.  More on the changes and impact here .  Photo:  NYTimes/Brendan Smialowski

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