Gonzales Argues Against Expiration Date on Patriot Act

The issue is apt to become an important part of the debate as Congress determines whether to extend the law, which gave the government new power to investigate and prosecute terrorists.
It surfaced Wednesday as Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales testified before the House Judiciary Committee for a second day about the Patriot Act.
The hearing was the first of a series that the House panel had scheduled to decide whether 16 provisions of the law should be renewed this year.
Gonzales said that because the department had achieved a "strong record of success" in using the provisions to fight terrorism, they should be made permanent.
He argued that removing the sunset provisions would not limit Congress' scrutiny of the department.
But many members of Congress contend that their ability to oversee the agency has been thwarted because the Justice Department — at least under former Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft — has been loath to reveal details of how the law has been used.
So the issue raises a larger question: Can the Justice Department — even under a new and more accessible attorney general — be trusted?