U.S. Judge Riles The N.S.A. Wiretapping Program Is Illegal

Federal Judge Finds N.S.A. Wiretapping Program Illegal -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the National Security Agency’s program of surveillance without warrants was illegal, rejecting the Obama administration’s effort to keep shrouded in secrecy one of the most disputed counterterrorism policies of former President George W. Bush.

In a 45-page opinion, Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled that the government had violated a 1978 federal statute requiring court approval for domestic surveillance when it intercepted phone calls of Al Haramain, a now-defunct Islamic charity in Oregon, and of two lawyers representing it in 2004. Declaring that the plaintiffs had been “subjected to unlawful surveillance,” the judge said the government was liable to pay them damages.

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More News On The Ruling That The N.S.A. Wiretapping Program Is Illegal

Court Says Bush Illegally Wiretapped Two Americans -- Threat Level
Judge Rules NSA Wiretapping Used Illegally -- ABC News
Bush wiretapping program takes hit in Calif ruling -- AP
Wiretap by U.S. Illegal, Judge Says -- Wall Street Journal
U.S. illegally wiretapped Islamic charity group, judge rules -- L.A. Times
Government held liable in warrantless wiretapping case -- CNN
Warrantless Wiretaps Of Islamic Group, Lawyers Illegal: Judge -- NPR
Judge rules in favor of charity in warrantless wiretapping suit -- Politico
Court Rejects Government's Executive Power Claims and Rules That Warrantless Wiretapping Violated Law -- Electronic Frontier Foundation

My Comment: This ruling is going straight to appeal. This may have been a program that was set up during President Bush's term, but the Obama administration have made it clear that they want it to.