"President Bush's claim that he is not bound by the law is simply astounding. "The prohibition against government eavesdropping on American citizens is well-established and crystal clear," said ACLU Associate Legal Director Ann Beeson, lead counsel in the group's lawsuit.
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( Full story)Īl Gore, the former vice president and 2000 presidential candidate, said Monday that the use of the NSA to eavesdrop on Americans without court approval shows that Bush "has been breaking the law repeatedly and persistently." ( Full story) 'Rule of law'Ĭritics of the program point out that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 covers domestic wiretaps, requiring the government to go to a FISA court to seek a warrant within 72 hours of establishing such a wiretap. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, plans to hold hearings about it next month.
In an interview Monday on CNN's "Larry King Live," Attorney General Alberto Gonzales defended the program, saying that it "has been carefully reviewed by lawyers from throughout the administration" and that "the president does have the legal authorities to authorize this program." ( Full story)īut some Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have expressed skepticism about the program.
In a written statement, Romero said "surveillance of Americans is a chilling assertion of presidential power that has not been seen since the days of Richard Nixon." ( Watch the attorney general defend the program - 4:16) do nothing to help enhance civil liberties or protect the American people."Īfter the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Bush authorized the NSA to intercept communications between people inside the United States, including American citizens, and terrorism suspects overseas, without obtaining a warrant.īush and other administration officials contend his constitutional powers as commander in chief as well as a congressional resolution passed in the wake of the terrorist attacks provide the legal authority for the no-warrant surveillance. Responding to the lawsuits, Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said, "We believe these cases are without merit and plan to vigorously defend against such charges."Īnd White House spokesman Scott McClellan said "the frivolous lawsuits. "President Bush may believe he can authorize spying on Americans without judicial or congressional approval, but this program is illegal, and we intend to put a stop to it," ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Keith Alexander, as defendants, and the New York suit names the NSA, Alexander and "the heads of the other major security agencies." ( Watch White House respond to suits - 1:31) The ACLU's 60-page complaint names the NSA and its director, Lt. Separately, the Center for Constitutional Rights filed suit in the Southern District of New York on behalf of "clients who fit the criteria described by the attorney general for targeting" under the program. The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit in the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of several journalists, authors, scholars and organizations. NEW YORK (CNN) - Two lawsuits were filed Tuesday against the National Security Agency over its no-warrant wiretapping program, claiming the domestic eavesdropping is unconstitutional and that President Bush exceeded his authority by authorizing it.
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