The Justice Department is launching a campaign to unofficially lobby Congressmen to back the USA Patriot Act. Federal U.S. attorneys have been given a list that marks which members of Congress have voted to turn back portions of the act. The Justice Department is urging the US Attorneys to personally contact the members of Congress and talk about the importance of the Patriot Act.

The Justice Department denies that the effort violates the Anti-Lobbying Act which bars government employees from lobbying. But Michigan Congressman John Conyers has questioned whether the plan, as well as Attorney General John Ashcroft’s current 18-city Victory Tour promoting the Patriot Act, violates the law.