The Washington Post is reporting Attorney General Alberto Gonzales assured Congress the FBI respected privacy rights despite receiving reports that violations had in fact occurred. Gonzales’ comments came in April 2005 as he sought congressional renewal of broad law enforcement powers under the PATRIOT Act. At the time, he told Congress: “There has not been one verified case of civil liberties abuse.” But internal FBI documents show Gonzales received at least half a dozen reports contradicting that claim in the three months before. The violations included unauthorized surveillance and illegal property search.