From Fox News.
A federal judge ruled Monday that the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of phone records likely violates the Constitution, in a major setback for the controversial spy agency.
U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon granted a preliminary injunction sought by plaintiffs Larry Klayman and Charles Strange. However, he also stayed his decision “pending appeal,” giving the U.S. government time to fight the decision over the next several months.
The judge wrote that he expects the government to “prepare itself to comply with this order when, and if, it is upheld.”
Even after the appeals court rules, the Supreme Court will probably have the last word.
The ruling was the first major legal defeat for the NSA since former contractor Edward Snowden began exposing secrets about the NSA’s data collection over the summer.
“We’ve seen the opinion and are studying it,” the Justice Department said in a brief statement after the decision. “We believe the program is constitutional as previous judges have found. We have no further comment at this time.”
Snowden himself released a statement late Monday saying, “I acted on my belief that the NSA’s mass surveillance programs would not withstand a constitutional challenge, and that the American public deserved a chance to see these issues determined by open courts.
” Today, a secret program authorized by a secret court was, when exposed to the light of day, found to violate Americans’ rights. It is the first of many.”
If any of the national security agencies in this country have bona fide intelligence on terrorist threats in this country, and, believe me, there are plenty, then, by all means, I want them to use every resource they have to get so far up their ass, they’ll feel like they’re getting a colonoscopy.
There needs to be strict, common-sense oversight based on verified indications and warnings. The problem is, any power created for clandestine use can be abused.
The erosion of America’s civil and personal liberties has taken on evil proportions. Obama’s abuse of power, in particular, is unprecedented.
It’s not just the government, private omnipresent companies like Google are doing the same thing. They collaborate with government agencies in exchange for political favors.
The line between security and liberty has been crossed. It’s up to the citizens of America to kick their asses back over that line.
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