by TChris

Three journalists who tried to cover the FBI's raid of a group seeking independence for Puerto Rico were hospitalized when the FBI reacted with violence to their presence at the scene of the raid. At least ten journalists were sprayed with pepper spray, prompting three congressmen -- Reps. Jose Serrano, Luis Gutierrez, and Nydia Velazquez -- to ask FBI Director Robert Mueller to investigate whether the FBI's actions were "excessive or unwarranted."

Puerto Rico Police Chief Pedro Toledo criticized the FBI's use of pepper spray as "completely outside of the norm," Serrano and his colleagues wrote.

"In our democracy, the most fundamental obligations is law enforcement agencies in to uphold the constitutional rights of citizens as well as to protect the freedom of the press," the letter continued. "Even in Puerto Rico, where the Bureau and its agents have a reputation for behaving as if they are above the law, the FBI is not exempt from these duties."