Three carriers would not discuss the U.S. Department of Justice findings that the FBI overstepped its authority in accessing private phone records in investigations of terrorism or espionage suspects under the Patriot Act.

Neither AT&T, Verizon nor Qwest would comment on the matter in which a Justice Department audit released Friday determined the FBI, without a court order, improperly exercised Patriot Act powers to obtain phone, credit and Internet records of suspected terrorists and spies.

AT&T said it "will not comment on the story" and referred us to the FBI.

“We do not comment on matters of national security,” Qwest spokesman Bob Toevs said. Toevs would not even confirm if Qwest was contacted by the FBI.

“Every day, Verizon’s subpoena units respond to emergency requests from federal, state and local law enforcement for particular calling records,” Verizon spokesman Peter Thonis said. He would not expand on this particular event.

Sprint says it has "no plans to issue a statement on this topic."