The new rules give FBI agents broad latitude to visit public places without the constraints that they offer evidence of potential criminal activity. The only caveat is that the visits must fall within the category of terrorism prevention.

FBI agents also gained authority to search the Internet, visit chat rooms and conduct on-line searches without having to demonstrate that the searches are part of ongoing criminal investigations.

The rules also grant powers to FBI field supervisors to initiate intelligence investigations without first securing approval from FBI managers in Washington.

FBI Director Robert Mueller says the agency is responding to problems--through increased polygraphs (of whom, we wonder, the agents or the informants?,) better computer programs and "tightened" rules for managing informants.

Joe Lieberman wants in on the investigation as well, but from another angle. He's asking for a Justice Department and FBI investigation into whether the Chinese Government gave Leung some of the money that she later donated to Republican campaigns.

Ashcroft also issued guidelines for the FBI to follow in undercover operations. You can view them here. They apply to FBI investigations in "General Crimes, Racketeering Enterprise and Terrorism Enterprise Investigations." The May 30 informant guidelines apply to "the use of confidential informants in criminal investigations and prosecutions by Department of Justice law enforcement agencies and federal prosecuting offices. However the guidelines state, "These Guidelines do not apply to the use of Confidential Informants in foreign intelligence or foreign counterintelligence investigations."