The issue focused on issues that law enforcement officials said were legal to prohibit in federal laws. Law enforcement officials also pointed out the legislation would make it illegal for agencies to prosecute civil rights activists and criminal justice reform advocates.

In one incident, Attorney General Eric Holder asked Justice Department lawyers about prosecutorial discretion that permitted prosecutors to request court orders allowing officers to search medical records or financial records of non-violent felons. When Justice lawyers refused, he wrote a letter to Justice officials asking them to review whether law enforcement