The Washington Post reported on Monday, October 24, that previously classified documents had been released which showed numerous misuses of surveillance by the FBI which included improper searches and seizures of emails and bank records.

These documents which had been turned over under a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit that had been filed by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), showed that auditors with the FBI investigated hundreds of potential violations related to the agency's domestic surveillance since Sept. 11, 2001.

Some of the violations found in the documents included:

· FBI agents failed to file annual updates on ongoing surveillance, as required by guidelines of the Justice.

· The FBI violated bank privacy statutes.

· The FBI conducted an improper physical search.

· That the FBI improperly collected emails after warrants had expired.

EPIC’s general counsel, David Sobel, stated that "We're seeing what might be the tip of the iceberg at the FBI and across the intelligence community. It indicates that the existing mechanisms do not appear adequate to prevent abuses or to ensure the public that abuses that are identified are treated seriously and remedied."

However, FBI officials told the Washington Post that most of the violations were simply administrative errors.

An FBI anonymous FBI official informed the newspaper that "the FBI and the people who work in the FBI are very cognizant of the fact that people are watching us to make sure we're doing the right thing."

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