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By Eric Lichtblau and Mark Mazzetti
The New York Times
Sunday 14 January 2007
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Washington - The Pentagon has been using a little-known power to obtain banking and credit records of hundreds of
Americans and others suspected of terrorism or espionage inside the United States, part of an aggressive expansion by
the military into domestic intelligence gathering.
The C.I.A. has also been issuing what are known as national security letters to gain access to financial records from
American companies, though it has done so only rarely, intelligence officials say.
Banks, credit card companies and other financial institutions receiving the letters usually have turned over documents
voluntarily, allowing investigators to examine the financial assets and transactions of American military personnel and
civilians, officials say.
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