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Intel RICO Billed
The Washington Post, October 12, 1996, p. A6.
Clinton Approves Intelligence Spending Rise
Bill Is Also Signed to Make Theft of Trade Secrets a
Federal Crime
President Clinton signed a bill yesterday that boosts
intelligence agency spending and another that makes theft
of trade secrets a federal crime.
Clinton said he signed the 1997 Intelligence Authorization
Act despite objections to three provisions, including one
that establishes three new assistant directors of central
intelligence under CIA Director John M. Deutch.
Although the nation's intelligence budget is an official
secret, it is reported to total about $30 billion for the
1997 fiscal year, up 4.9 percent from 1996.
In a statement, Clinton said he would support Deutch in
asking the next Congress to repeal the provision that
created assistant directors for intelligence collection,
analysis and administration. "I share his concern that
these provisions will add another layer of positions
requiring Senate confirmation" without a corresponding
increase in the CIA director's authority to manage the
intelligence agencies, Clinton said.
The bill:
+ Gives the FBI power to subpoena local telephone records.
+ Authorizes the CIA and the National Security Agency to
collect data on foreign citizens abroad for U.S.
investigations.
+ Requires Senate confirmation of the CIA's general
counsel. That is meant to prevent political influence over
a position designed to block illegal covert operations.
+ Prohibits federal employment of senior intelligence
officials for three years after their departure from
government.
It also prohibits the CIA from using American journalists
as spies. But the restriction could be waived in
extraordinary circumstances and the CIA still could have
its agents pose as journalists. The bill would not prohibit
journalists who choose to provide information from doing
so.
Clinton also signed into law the Economic Espionage Act of
1996, saying it strengthens protections against theft or
misuse of proprietary business information. "It will help
us crack down on acts like software piracy and copyright
infringement that cost American businesses billions of
dollars in lost revenues," he said. The law makes the theft
of trade secrets a federal crime and provides financial
penalties and prison sentences for specific acts of
economic espionage. It also preserves the confidentiality
of trade secrets in court proceedings.
Clinton said the measure also eliminates gaps in the
criminal laws that cover attacks against computers and the
information they contain.
[End]