“[T]he Patriot Act [which was signed into law on October 26, 2001] does not require intelligence agencies to demonstrate before a court of law that there is a probable offense in order to obtain a judge’s approval. The act simply requires agents to state that the tap would be of some use, however general or ambiguous, in a criminal investigation, rendering judicial oversight of such activities negligible. This change from prior law removes a primary check on the power of the Executive Branch and does much to subvert the system of checks and balances instituted by the Constitution.”
– Stefan Halper and Jonathan Clarke, America Alone, Page 288