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 | | Posted by: Brian Baker | Thursday, September 06, 2007 10:08:37 PM | National Security Leters (NSLs) "allow [FBI] agents in counterterrorism and counterintelligence investigations to secretly gather Americans' phone, bank and Internet records without a court order or a grand jury subpoena.
Wowser! Sounds like a fundamental violation of Constitutional Privacy rights to me! Fortunately, it sounded that way to U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero as well.
The Washington Posts reports today, that Judge Marrero ruled, in the case of Doe v. Gonzales, that the Patriot Act's provisions on NSL's was "the legislative equivalent of breaking and entering, with an ominous free pass to the hijacking of constitutional values."
The ruling strikes down all provisions in the Patriot Act regarding the use of NSL's, but Judge Marrero delayed the enforcement of his decision for 90 days so that the government could appeal.
The plaintiff in this case could not use their real name because acknowledging that you received an NSL is a violation of the Patriot Act.
This nation has had the Foreign Intelligence Security Act (FISA) Court in place for over 20 years. It is housed in a secure, fortified room within the Department of Justice. It is used to get secret warrants to wiretap security threats.
The FISA Court has NEVER turned down a request by the government. Yet, this administration, through the PATRIOT Act, aptly misnamed, felt the need to bypass their own private court. Why? Probably because they wanted warrant powers on such flimsy evidence that even their own private court would say no.
That should give all Americans pause.
I lived in Washington, DC during 9/11 and had 2 kids at a downtown day care near my wife's office at the time the Pentagon was hit. It was a very scary time. That said, I see no reason that this adminsitration had any need to force such draconian laws down our throats. I firmly believe it has all been about scaring Americans to stay in power than about protecting us.
Thank God the Judiciary and Cogress is finally starting to get a spine!
maerro_decision_090607.pdf | | | Permalink | Trackback |
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Re: The FBI's National Security Letters (NSL's) and you! | By Todd.Byers on Monday, September 10, 2007 2:13:07 AM | Yet another attempt by the fascist regime (right-wing extremists/Bush/religious fundamentalists) that runs this country trying to do exactly as they please in the name of the lord...God doesn't like people that we don't like...
These same people believe that Adam and Eve rode to church on the back of a dinosaur...
Just how far are these people going to be allowed to go for the sake of "Protecting American Values"... |
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Re: The FBI's National Security Letters (NSL's) and you! | By Jesse on Saturday, December 22, 2007 6:30:15 PM | When Fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. - Sinclair Lewis
Sounds like the Bush Administration to me |
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