Qwest Explains Why It Refused N.S.A. Query

[dogday]

WASHINGTON, May 12 — The telecommunications company Qwest turned down requests by the National Security Agency for private telephone records because it concluded that doing so would violate federal privacy laws, a lawyer for the telephone company's former chief executive said today.

In a statement released this morning, the lawyer said that the former chief executive, Joseph N. Nacchio, made the decision after asking whether "a warrant or other legal process had been secured in support of that request."

Mr. Nacchio learned that no warrant had been granted and that there was a "disinclination on the part of the authorities to use any legal process," said the lawyer, Herbert J. Stern. As a result, the statement said, Mr. Nacchio concluded that "the requests violated the privacy requirements of the Telecommunications Act."

Qwest was the only phone company to turn down requests from the security agency for phone records as part of a program to compile a vast database of numbers and other information on virtually all domestic calls. The program's scope was first described in an article published on Thursday by USA Today that led to an outpouring of demands for information from Congressional Republicans and Democrats. The article said that At&T, BellSouth and Verizon had agreed to provide the information to the security agency.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/12/washington/12cnd-phone.html?hp&ex=1147492800&en=eb85158452eae01a&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[redqueen]

1. Former chief executive?

Wish I had time to read that whole article... I'm curious...

[threadkillaz]

7. They're trying to "Martha" him.

A Former Qwest chief executive, Joseph Nacchio, a defendant in M.r Hevesi's lawsuit, is awaiting trial on 42 counts of insider trading. He has denied wrongdoing. A lawyer for Mr. Nacchio didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment yesterday.

http://www.nysun.com/article/31345

[babylonsister]

2. Now I want explanations from the other companies regarding WHY

they complied. I smell class action lawsuits all over the place!

[wryter2000]

5. I hope so

I hope we sue them into oblivion. Or, at least, that the threat of a lawsuit will get the stockholders to boot the "management" out.

[wryter2000]

3. As far as I'm concerned

This proves that they knew the spying was illegal. If they'd had good legal ground to base their spying on, they would have compelled Qwest to cooperate.

[Warpy]

4. "Show me the warrant" should have been the first thing any

telecom company said to the NSA. That some didn't is to their deep shame.

I hope their customers desert.

Kudos to Qwest. It's high time they had some good news.

[TexasLawyer]

6. K&R and saying

yay to Qwest and a BIG yay to Qwest's lawyers.:woohoo:

I am sure that the same "disinclination on the part of the authorities to use any legal process," was shown to AT&T and the other companies that so willingly gave away their customers' private information.

See guys-- sometimes lawyers ARE good for something!!!!!
:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[gratuitous]

8. So, for all these high-priced telecommunications lawyers

Only one of them had the sense to ask to see a warrant before betraying their customers, and when the warrant wasn't forthcoming, they told the government to take a hike.

Well, AT&T, Verizon and Bell South? What the hell are you paying your lawyers so goddam much for if they can't ask a simple question and get a response?

Can you hear me now?

[shance]

9. Only question is why is Qwest connected to the Carlyle Group?

It seems there is a connection there. I don't have the link.

Anyone?

[boise1]

10. They bought Qwest's yellow page business (QwestDex)

http://www.thecarlylegroup.com/eng/news/l5-news670.html

[shance]

12. Thanks Boise. So why did they do that?

Why would the QWest yellow page business be of significance to the Carlyle Group?

[SidDithers]

13. Is it profitable?...nt

Sid

[paparush]

11. Holy Crap... they wanted to see a warrant!! Hallelujia!!

Somebody still believes in due process, habeus corpus, corpus christi, and all that other stuff!!

[stop the bleeding]

14. uhh - because it is illegal

hello dogday! :hi:

[dogday]

15. Helllooooooooooo

How ya doing??? :hi:

[stop the bleeding]

17. just got checking the Federal site for an indictment on you know who

and so far - nadda - but hey it is Friday and Martial Law hasn't set in yet, but there is always next week ;)

[dogday]

18. I have been checking reuters and ap

raw story and google's latest news.... Nada on him.... I can wait.... thanks:D

[central scrutinizer]

16. Makes me feel good that I have Qwest for my local service

and Working Assests Long Distance. Of course, it was just dumb luck.

[PATRICK]

19. Asking a company

emerging from massive indictments about other criminality. The only good news from a "moral" executive and it is either a lie or 100% self interest, likely both. Or the Coup has been using some companies like Qwest for other purposes since they don't need everyone on board at the start.

One hand clapping in the poisoned air.