Judge Orders First-Ever Damages for Bush-Era Illegal Wiretapping

[The Straight Story]

Judge Orders First-Ever Damages for Bush-Era Illegal Wiretapping


The Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, branded a terrorist organization during the Bush administration, is set to receive $40,800 in damages from the federal government for illegally spying on the foundation’s communications. The government also has been ordered to pay $2.5 million in legal fees incurred by Al-Haramain, which was subjected to unauthorized wiretapping by the National Security Agency (NSA) in 2004.

The settlement was ordered by Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who ruled in April that President George W. Bush exceeded his legal authority when he instructed the NSA to spy on suspected terrorists in the United States without obtaining warrants from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Walker’s ruling is the first one to go against the government, which still is facing other lawsuits stemming from the controversial surveillance program.

As a candidate, Barack Obama criticized the illegal wiretapping program. However, after assuming the presidency, he has ordered his Justice Department to defend the government against the lawsuit. It is not yet known if the Obama administration will appeal the case to a higher court.

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Judge_Orders_First_Ever_Damages_for_Bush_Era_Illegal_Wiretapping_101224

[OnyxCollie]

1. K&R. nt

[Poll_Blind]

2. Well fuck yeah! K&R!

PB

[arcane1]

3. Walker has had a pretty good year!

:toast:

[tpsbmam]

4. Good for Judge Walker! Sure to be appealed but at least there's one

judge out there who believes in our Bill of Rights!

Interesting -- when I went to check on him after writing the above,
here's what I found:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaughn_R._Walker

Walker was originally nominated to the bench by Ronald Reagan in 1987. However, this nomination stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee because of controversy over his representation of the United States Olympic Committee in a lawsuit that prohibited the use of the title "Gay Olympics".<2> Two dozen Democrats, led by Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, opposed his nomination because of his perceived "insensitivity" to gays and the poor.<3>

On September 7, 1989, Walker was re-nominated by President George H. W. Bush to the seat on the federal district court vacated by Spencer M. Williams.<1> Walker was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on November 21, 1989, on unanimous consent and received his commission on November 27, 1989.

Guess one never knows -- not what I expected to find when I looked at who appointed him. (Well, one does know sometimes...the current Supreme Court conservatives are as bad as I expected and doing pretty much what I expected.)

K&R

[chill_wind]

5. K & R. Excellent news! This does break new ground!

Judge Vaughn Walker-- tremendous diligence and a bright light of integrity from beginning to end of this long, long ordeal. There are still good, tough men in America still fiercely devoted to the rule of law and he is one. K & R