FBI erred in targeting interfaith center

A Department of Justice inspector concluded that the FBI improperly
targeted for surveillance some U.S. advocacy organizations, including
the Thomas Merton Center, an interfaith group focused on nonviolence.

"We
found that the FBI's investigations related to the Merton Center and
its statements describing the basis for that investigation raised the
most troubling issues in this review," stated the report issued
September 20 by the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector
General.

FBI surveillance of an antiwar rally sponsored by the
Pittsburgh-based center was the subject of "inaccurate and misleading
information," the report said. As a result, FBI Director Robert Mueller
incorrectly testified about the center at a congressional hearing.

The
report said the surveillance of the 2002 rally was the result of an
"ill-conceived" assignment given to a probationary agent on a "slow
work day" to determine if terrorism suspects might be in attendance.

The board president of the Merton Center told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he found it "extraordinary and unbelievable" that the 209-page report focused so much on his center.

"To
mention us in the same sentence as 'terrorism' is an outrage," said
Michael Drohan. "Everything we do and have done is to stop war, prevent
war and promote economic and social justice. They really owe the Merton
Center a profound apology for incriminating us."

FBI spokesman
Chris Allen said the FBI was pleased with the report's conclusion that
groups were not targeted because of their "First Amendment activities."
He said the FBI is still mulling a recommendation to consider possible
action against individuals involved in the "bad information" that
resulted in Mueller's erroneous testimony.  —RNS