Bring on the indictments - Judge says program was illegal - the law

[BR_Parkway]

has penalties:

Remedies for violations

Both the subchapters covering physical searches and electronic surveillance provide for criminal and civil liability for violations of FISA.

Criminal sanctions follows violations of electronic surveillance by intentionally engaging in electronic surveillance under the color of law or through disclosing information known to have been obtained through unauthorized surveillance. The penalties for either act are fines up to $10,000, up to five years in jail, or both.<13>

In addition, the statute creates a cause of action for private individuals whose communications were unlawfully monitored. The statute permits actual damages of not less than $1,000 or $100 per day. In addition, that statute authorizes punitive damages and an award of attorney's fees.<14>

Similar liability is found under the subchapter pertaining to physical searches.

In both cases, the statute creates an affirmative defense for a law enforcement agent acting within their official duties and pursuant to a valid court order. Presumably, such a defense is not available to those operating exclusively under presidential authorization.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Intelligence_Surveillance_Act#Remedies_for_violations

So where is an ambitious US Attorney, get some of these people in front of the Grand Juries - they broke the law, there are penalties.

[indepat]

1. Bet they are shaking in their boots laughing so hard: the only law is what

they say is the law: they are the law!

[LUHiWY]

2. He who runs the show...runs the law?

They are trying to rewrite the law AND make it apply to previous cases...i.e....their own.

[zanne]

3. Republican spindoctors say "politically motivated"....

On C-Span Washington Journal this morning, Brian Lamb read opinion pieces from several newspapers, in cluding the Washington Post. They all claim that the decision was politically motivated because the judge was married to a Democratic politician at one time. It sure didn't take them long to get the spin out. Liberal press, my ass.

[texpatriot2004]

4. Agreed! nt

[Kahuna]

5. Uh huh. That'll happen...

:sarcasm:

Even if the hapless Dems win control, they will never do it. They fear a McCain incumbency too much. They will never give bushco the opportunity to let McCain in through the back door if they impeach bushco. McCain is their get out jail free card.

[BR_Parkway]

6. How so?