Domestic Wiretaps in the News

A couple weeks ago, I was getting the feeling that the NSA domestic wiretapping was falling off the radsr. Sen. Feingold issued the censure in hopes to revive investigation into the matter, but after a half-a** attempt at a hearing by Sen. Specter back in March, the censur, investigations, and news reports were dying down. Then in an arrogant move, Bush (or was it Rove) decided to nominate Gen. Hayden, the head of the NSA wiretapping program and key cheerleader, as CIA Director. Now the domestic wiretaps are back in the news. Here are some articles from the past few days...

• NSA has massive Database of American's phone calls

"It's the largest database ever assembled in the world," said one person, who, like the others who agreed to talk about the NSA's activities, declined to be identified by name or affiliation. The agency's goal is "to create a database of every call ever made" within the nation's borders, this person added.

• Government Abruptly ends Domestic Spying Probe
  

The government has abruptly ended an inquiry into the warrantless eavesdropping program because the National Security Agency refused to grant Justice Department lawyers the necessary security clearance to probe the matter.

• 72 Member of Congress Join Lawsuit Against Wiretaps
  

The 71 Democrats and one independent filed an amicus brief in two federal courts reviewing challenges to the warrantless wiretapping program in Detroit and New York, joining the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights. Both suits demand the program be stopped.

• Senators comment on the Domestic Spying issue

Including this from Dianne Feinstein...

“I believe we are on our way to a major Constitutional confrontation on Fourth Amendment guarantees of unreasonable search and seizure. I think this is also going to present a growing impediment to the confirmation of General Hayden (to be CIA Director)."

It will be interesting to see where this goes. Will our elected leaders stand up for the rule of law and hold the administration accountable?