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Federal judge hears arguments on wiretapping


Photo courtesy University Press

By Julia Cheever

August 30, 2007

A federal judge in San Francisco heard another round of arguments today on the government's claim that lawsuits challenging warrantless wiretapping must be dismissed to protect national security.

Justice Department lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Vaughn to dismiss a lawsuit filed by four New York residents against President Bush as well as several suits filed by citizens and the American Civil Liberties Union against Verizon Communications Inc.

The cases are among about 45 lawsuits nationwide that have been consolidated in Walker's court. Most were filed against telecommunications companies and claim the companies illegally aided the National Security Agency in warrantless surveillance of telephone calls and e-mails. Some were filed against Bush and administration officials.

Previously, Walker last year refused to dismiss the lead case, filed against AT&T Corp. in January 2006 by four Californians.

The Justice Department has appealed that ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which heard arguments in San Francisco two weeks ago and will issue a written ruling at a later date.

Walker said, "A lot of these arguments have a familiar ring to them," and suggested that it might make sense to wait until the appeals court rules on the government's claim that allowing the lawsuits to proceed would jeopardize national security.

But plaintiffs in the lawsuit say their arguments against dismissal have been strengthened because Bush administration officials and members of Congress recently revealed more details about the program.

Last week, National Intelligence Director Michael McConnell told the El Paso Times newspaper that telecommunications companies "had assisted us" in alleged intelligence activities and said, "If you're going to get access, you've got to have a partner."

McConnell had previously submitted a sworn statement to the court saying that it would cause "exceptionally grave harm to the national security" to confirm or deny that telecommunications companies had aided the government.

Attorney Ilan Maazel, representing the New York plaintiffs, told Walker today, "The program is essentially not secret."

But Justice Department attorney Anthony Coppolino argued that McConnell didn't reveal the names of any telecommunications company and said the government stands by its state secrets claim.

Walker took the requests for dismissal under submission after nearly three hours of arguments.

He did not say whether he will await the decision by the 9th Circuit - which has no deadline for ruling - but did tell the approximately two dozen attorneys in the courtroom, "I probably won't see you again until after we hear from the 9th Circuit."


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Copyright © 2007 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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