Glenn Greenwald explains the State Secrets Privilege, while mcjoan explains its use in NSA illegal domestic surveillance case.
In this case, the government is invoking the privilege to crush a class-action suit.
The class-action suit, which seeks an end to the collaboration it alleges, is based in part on the testimony of Mark Klein, a retired technician for the company who says Internet data passing through an AT&T switching center in San Francisco is being diverted to a secret room. There, Mr. Klein says, the security agency has installed powerful computers to eavesdrop without warrants on the digital data and forward the information to an undisclosed place.
The foundation has filed documents obtained by Mr. Klein that ostensibly show detailed technical information on N.S.A. technology used to divert Internet data. He has also said in a deposition that employees of the agency went to the switching center to oversee special projects.
Another victim of the State Secrets privilege is Sibel Edmonds.
on July 22, 2002, Edmonds filed suit against the Department of Justice, the FBI, and several high-level officials, alleging that she was wrongfully terminated from the FBI in retaliation for reporting criminal activities committed by government officials and employees. On October 18, 2002, Attorney General John Ashcroft invoked the State Secrets Privilege in order to prevent disclosure of the nature of Edmonds’ work on the grounds that it would endanger national security, and asked that the suit be dismissed.
And, of course, they had good reason for stifling Edmonds.
Chris Deliso: Hmm, well I know you can’t name names, but can you tell me if any specific officials will suffer if your testimony comes out?
Sibel Edmonds: Yes. Certain elected officials will stand trial and go to prison.
Going to prison is becoming a trend for Republicans, both elected and appointed. But a lot more of them would be in jail if it were not for their abuse of the State Secrets Privilege. When will the American people come to the collective conclusion that the Bush administration and the Republican Congress are running a criminal enterprise and demand they be thrown out of power?
Will Fitzmas move us down that road? Can it be the tipping point? Please?
