AP: Judge Gives U.S. Wiretap Response Deadline

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A federal judge gave the government two months to respond to an Ohio trucker's request that his terrorism conviction be thrown out on the grounds that the government illegally spied on him.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema cited "the potentially weighty issues raised in the defendant's motion" in an order Wednesday that set a 60-day timetable for the government to respond to Iyman Faris' arguments.

Faris' challenge is among the first to seek evidence of warrantless electronic eavesdropping by the National Security Agency, a practice that began after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Government officials have reportedly credited eavesdropping with uncovering terrorist plots, including one by Faris to blow up the Brooklyn Bridge. Critics say President Bush didn't have authority to order the wiretaps, but he has staunchly defended the practice.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DOMESTIC_SPYING_CHALLENGE?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

use this defense, so much for GW spying will keep us safe.

They didn't cover their asses, and we're less safe for it.

If not this one, then the next or the next as the FOIA requests are filed. Then the misguided policy will be exposed as having hurt the case, and further weakening our security.

I love your sig, btw!

:cry:


Olly Olly Oxen Free

IIRC, she works out of the Federal Courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia.

Let's hope when real terroists get aquitted because Georgie broke the rules, they go quietly into the night to play golf with O.J..

...to Faris by a telephone call intercepted in another investigation."

'another investigation' hmmmmmm. ok, this is what'll happen, in 59 days, the government will respond with a refusal on 'national security' grounds.

"another investigation" without a warrant, dirtying the case. Oy.

"Prosecutors say Faris investigated, but finally ruled out, using a gas cutter to burn through the Brooklyn Bridge's suspension cables, and that he received attack instructions from top terrorist leader Khalid Shaikh Mohammed for what they suggested might have been a second wave of terror attacks in New York and Washington."

Once again, Khalid is described as the top terrorist. Wonder why they switched from OBL to this dude.

We now have good evidence that the practice began before Sep 11th. Clearly it didn't work to prevent that; how are we supposed to believe the wiretapping has anything to do with terra? They're tapping their political opponents; that is, 63% of the US population.

because George "Cowboy" Bush decided to ignore the basics? Getting a warrant is taught in Law Enforcement 101. This should make for good election year speech writing.

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Nothing seems to stick on this guy -- yet. I'm always amazed what the stalwart supporters are willing to forgive in the name of the NeoCon agenda.

The illegal NSA wiretaps are dangerous. We are truly less safe because of them.