Protecting the Big Money Boyz

The FBI breached its own internal rules when it spied on campaigners against the Keystone XL pipeline, failing to get approval before it cultivated informants and opened files on individuals protesting against the construction of the pipeline in Texas, documents reveal. 

Internal agency documents show for the first time how FBI agents have been closely monitoring anti-Keystone activists, in violation of guidelines designed to prevent the agency from becoming unduly involved in sensitive political issues. [...]

One FBI memo, which set out the rationale for investigating campaigners in the Houston area, touted the economic advantages of the pipeline while labelling its opponents “environmental extremists”.

The documents, The Guardian reporters write, indicate that the Houston operation was just one branch of investigations of anti-Keystone groups and individuals across the country.

A former FBI agent, Mike German, helped the newspaper understand the documents. He said that they indicate the bureau opened an "assessment" under expanded authority introduced after the 9/11 attacks to allow it to investigate people and groups even if they have no reason to believe they are breaking the law or planning to.

German, now a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice in New York, said the documents also raised questions over collusion between law enforcement and TransCanada.

“It is clearly troubling that these documents suggest the FBI interprets its national security mandate as protecting private industry from political criticism,” he said.