Spying scandal could mean a massive hit to state's federal aid

The Maryland State Police could lose as much as $4.5 million in federal funding if an ongoing investigation reveals that its use of a criminal database to track peaceful activists violated federal rules, the Washington Times reports.

While the surveillance of the anti-death penalty and peace activists appears legal under state law, legal analysts tell the Times that "entering a Baltimore activist's name in the drug-trafficking and terror suspect database without apparent justification could violate 1970s-era regulations stemming from revelations of domestic spying by national intelligence agencies." Such a violation could cost the state its federal funding for police.

State Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Chairman Brian Frosh (D-Bethesda) will hold a Sept. 16 hearing for testimony on the legality of the practice. Frosh says that if the practices are legal under state law, he will introduce legislation to outlaw them.

In July, an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit revealed that undercover agents of the Maryland State Police spent 288 hours on surveillance of peace and anti-death penalty activists over a 14 month-period under former Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R), from March 2005 until May 2006.

Attorney General Doug Gansler (D)'s office is currently probing the scandal at the request of Gov. Martin O'Malley (D). Former state Attorney General Stephen Sachs (D) is also heading an independent review.