December 02, 2004

ACLU Of Oregon Seeks Joint Terrorism Task Force Spy Files

Move Comes Three Weeks Before City Council Considers JTTF Renewal

As part of a nationwide series of Freedom of Information Act requests, the ACLU of Oregon today announced that it is seeking "information on the actual FBI files of groups and individuals suspected of being targeted by the FBI for speaking out or practicing their faith."

Citing evdience that Joint Terrorism Task Forces elsewhere in the country have been monitoring the legal activities of lawful organizations, the ACLU of Oregon is trying to determine whether or not the JTTF in which the City of Portland is a participant has engaged in similar conduct.

Coincidentally, the nationwide FOIA effort comes as the City Council is a mere three weeks away from considering the renewal of the "memorandum of understanding" which establihses its participation in the local JTTF.

Recently, Commissioner Randy Leonard has expressed deep skepticism of Portland's continued involvement with the Task Force, given the lack of real and effective oversight, absence of clear information as to the Task Force's activities, the policies of President Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft, and in light of such other FBI-related controversies as the false targeting of local attorney Brandon Mayfield.

Earlier today, an OPB News story on the FOIA requests included the following:

Portland FBI spokeswoman Beth Ann Steele says the agency has no interest in and obviously no legal authority to target people for activities that are based on their constitutional rights.

Which may, of course, turn out to be the case. But without any solid oversight or access to Task Force records, all anyone is left with is the Bureau's word -- something that would be entirely inadequate even without the recent history of Federal law enforcement over-reaching.

And then there's this reminder from the ACLU of Oregon press release: "A classified FBI intelligence memorandum disclosed publicly last November revealed that the FBI has actually directed police to target and monitor lawful political demonstrations under the rubric of fighting terrorism."

It's safe to say that this FOIA effort will be discussed when City Council takes up the matter of JTTF renewal. Currently, that hearing is scheduled for December 22 at 10:30 AM.

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