Brian Frosh

Dear Friend,

Along with many others, I was deeply concerned over the recent news that Maryland State Police had engaged in undercover spying on peace activists and anti-death penalty groups.

At a minimum, these actions by State Police, which took place in 2005 and 2006, were a tremendous waste of resources; at worst, they were a significant violation of our citizens' civil liberties.

To ensure a full airing of this issue, I have called a special meeting of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on September 16th to hear from state officials about their work to infiltrate these activist groups.

I am pleased that Gov. Martin O'Malley has also taken action and appointed Stephen H. Sachs to undertake an independent review of these actions.

As a former U.S. attorney and Maryland attorney general, Mr. Sachs is highly qualified for the assignment. I am confident that he will conduct a thorough review of the facts and provide the committee with a report that will inform our work.

There are many questions that need to be answered. Where did the surveillance take place, and why was it authorized? Did police use wiretaps or other surveillance that require a search warrant? Why were activists' names entered into a federal database of suspected terrorists or drug traffickers?

When the Judicial Proceedings Committee is convened in September, our role will be twofold. First, we will hear from witnesses and review documents to help us determine what actually happened.

We will then determine if a policy response is warranted. If it is, we will craft legislation to be considered during the 2009 legislative session, which begins in January.

Our committee's work, coupled with the report being prepared by Mr. Sachs, will give us a fuller picture of the undercover activity and provide lawmakers with a better sense of what, if any, changes in the law are required. I am certain that we will be able to ensure that Maryland continues to have effective law enforcement while our cherished civil liberties, freedom of speech and freedom of association, remain protected.

Sincerely,

Brian E. Frosh