The Justice Department has given up its fight to force a Connecticut library group, Library Connection, to turn over the electronic records of one of its patrons. Responding to a terrorist threat, the government sought the records in May 2005 through a secret order issued under the USA Patriot Act.
John Miller, assistant director of public affairs for the FBI, told The Chronicle Monday that the agency had issued the demand for records because it was trying to track down the identity of someone who used a library computer to issue “an alleged terrorist threat.” He declined to elaborate on the threat, but said the FBI had closed the case and concluded that the threat was not credible. He criticized Library Connection officials for failing to comply with the order, saying the FBI’s probe into the terrorist threat was “less efficient” because of the group’s stand.
George M. Christian, executive director of Library Connection, said library officials announced the government’s decision on Monday morning at the American Library Association’s annual conference in New Orleans and received a standing ovation. “I think they got tired of the publicity,” Mr. Christian said of the government officials involved. “Ever since we’ve been ungagged, we’ve received lots of favorable publicity.” —Andrea L. Foster
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