Statement from former Senator Russ Feingold on the 10th Anniversary of the enactment of the Patriot Act:
"Ten years ago today, President Bush signed the Patriot Act into law, a blatant power-grab that gave unprecedented, unchecked power to the government to arrest, detain, and spy on our nation’s citizens with little or no judicial oversight.
"Sadly, this law still results in the unjust intrusion and harassment of too many Americans. So now, on the tenth anniversary of the enactment of the Patriot Act, we must redouble our efforts to rein in the abuses of power that law still allows, and we must all work to honor and restore our common heritage of basic rights. "
Russ Feingold served for 18 years as a U.S. senator from Wisconsin. Feingold served on the Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Intelligence, and Budget committees. He was the lone Senate vote against the Patriot Act.