Judge: Feds Must Release Telecom Records

[LeighAnn]

Source: AP via the Northwest Florida Daily News

An electronic privacy group challenging President Bush's domestic spying program scored a minor victory when a judge ordered the federal government to release information about lobbying efforts by telecommunications companies to protect them from prosecution.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation in January 2006 filed a class-action suit against AT&T Inc., accusing the company of illegally making communications on its networks available to the National Security Agency without warrants.

Congress is now considering changing the law to grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that would protect them from such court challenges.

"Any attempt for immunity is aimed at getting these very important cases swept back under the rug," EFF spokeswoman Rebecca Jeschke said Wednesday.



Read more: http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/DOMESTIC_SPYING

[ThomCat]

1. Woo Hoo!

I hope this leads to a hell of a lot more scandal. We need a lot more sunshine to disinfect this mess.

[Gman]

9. It has to be completely uncovered in order to disinfect this mess

problem is, when this mess is completely uncovered, I don't know how we'll be able to handle the stench.

[Vincardog]

2. "Any attempt for immunity is aimed at getting these very important cases swept back under the rug,"

[Robbien]

3. This case was about telecos lobbying efforts not actual spying records. Right?

If telecos obey this order, we find out how they are fighting to keep the spying records private. Correct?

[robinlynne]

5. yes. But in the grander scheme of things. The whole immunity concept is to hide

Bush's federal crimes. If they come out, which they will in any of the 40 court cases, as Keith Olberman said last night, we will be forced to impeach and both Dems and Repugs don't want that to happen.

[robinlynne]

6. also it can be looked at as "the cover-up", not the crime. Ask Nixon about that...

[robinlynne]

4. YES! YES! YES! do it judge.

[dipsydoodle]

7. From other posts on other subects in the past

I'd gained the impression that your laws were never made retroactive/rerospective.

Was I wrong ?

[Occulus]

8. prior to this maladministration, you'd be correct

Also witness the various sex offender registry laws; I believe some states (including MI, where I live) made those registries retroactive to a certain date, or tried to.

Another thing that "used to be" was contracts being honored across state lines. Gays can get married i VT and MA, but those marriages are invalid everywhere else, in direct violation of the full faith and credit clauses of our Federal constitution.

You'll never see that argument win in the courts, though, because gay marriage is just icky and gays deserve fewer rights because we're gay.

[Demeter]

19. In a Normal World, That Would Be True

but we are in BushWorld, now. Kind of like WestWorld, without Yul Brenner.

[kansasblue]

10. Give EFF.org some love. I'm member. Consider joining !

http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2007/11/28-0

November 28th, 2007
EFF Wins Fast-Track Release of Telecom Lobbying Records
Judge Cancels Friday Hearing, Orders Government to Comply by December 10

San Francisco - Late Tuesday, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) won the speedy release of telecom lobbying records from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).


www.eff.org

[HowHasItComeToThis]

11. COMPUTER IS OUR FRIEND OR ENEMY

THAT IS THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT

[katty]

12. love the EFF!! holding the line....all the time!

[santamargarita]

13. Let's hope it actually happens

We have all been spied on! I've had phone service with Working Assets for some time now and never plan to leave. They teamed up with the ACLU in a lawsuit against these criminals. But you know damn good and well somewhere/sometime our calls have been routed through an AT&T line into one of those secret rooms.

[minnesota_liberal]

14. You can bet the Feds will fight this one!

"National Security" and all.

[Liberty Belle]

15. So now we can find out which politicians and journalists have been spied on,

and perhaps blackmailed, threatened, or had their security and sources compromised.

How do we find out if our names are on the list?

[burrowowl]

16. K&R!

WRITE OR CALL CONGRESS CRITTERS: NO RETROACTIVE IMMUNITY!

[bjobotts]

17. They've already done this in court and Congress is trying to interfere

Congress is trying to interfere in the court cases that already have the records and are going to hold telecoms accountable for breaking the law. They will all get off if Congress grants the immunity. They are interfering in the courts decisions in these cases which are pending waiting the out come of Congress' decision.

[orleans]

18. comcast will no longer be renting their lines from at&t by the end of april 2008

at least around where i live

[mlevans]

20. The problem is that once it gets under the rug

it soaks into the floorboards. Then the whole room smells.

[Supersedeas]

21. how will the TV Media with all those $$$ in Telecom Advertising cover this?? Shhhhh....