In the debate over the PATRIOT Act, the Bush White House insisted it needed the authority to search people’s homes without their permission or knowledge so that terrorists wouldn’t be tipped off that they’re under investigation.

Now that the authority is law, how has the Department of Justice used the new power? To go after drug dealers.

Only three of the 763 “sneak-and-peek” requests in fiscal year 2008 involved terrorism cases, according to a July 2009 report from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Sixty-five percent were drug cases.

Huffington Post: DoJ Official Blows Cover Off PATRIOT Act

Related posts (autogenerated):

1. Obama Backs Extending Patriot Act Spy Provisions
2. Obama’s drug policy: a little better, a little worse, mostly the same
3. Mexico decriminalizes small-scale drug possession
4. Mexico Senate OKs bill to legalize drug possesion
5. Bush officials sought to elevate terror alert to manipulate 04 election