PATRIOTIC DILIGENCE: Compliance in the Era of Globalized Terrorism

On Wednesday, September 12, 2001, Congress passed a near-unanimous joint resolution expressing, among other things, the House and Senate's support of "the determination of the President . . . to bring to justice and punish the perpetrators of these attacks as well as their sponsors." A month and a half later, on October 26, 2001, the President signed the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act) into law. Among other things, the Act broadened the investigatory power of the Department of Justice with respect to suspected terrorism, money laundering, and currency offenses, and increased the statutory maximum penalties for certain pre-existing offenses.