Dear xxxx,
A few weeks ago, the President confirmed news reports that he directed the National Security Agency to wiretap the phones of American citizens without court permission as required by law. When I stood up against the PATRIOT Act, it was because I feared that the government would use the few questionable provisions to harm our rights and freedoms. Now, in light of the disclosure of the government's warrantless wiretapping, I am more resolved than ever to keep the PATRIOT Act from being reauthorized without fixing these same broken provisions. In addition to fixing the PATRIOT Act, however, we also need to hold this administration accountable for these apparently illegal wiretaps, and to discover the facts about how President Bush justifies taking these drastic actions in violation of existing law. That's why I need your help calling for a full, unfettered investigation of the administration's wiretapping of American citizens:
http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com/wiretappingI want to be clear here: we should do all we can to keep our country safe from terrorists, whether they're in the United States or outside our borders. But these wiretaps are being conducted without any meaningful court oversight, apparently in violation of the law. And we need to learn what the Bush administration knew, and when they knew it. Please sign my petition, urging an investigation into this program:
http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com/wiretappingJust as I fought to protect our rights and freedoms when I felt that parts of the USA PATRIOT Act endangered them, I also pledge to take a leading role in investigating these illegal wiretaps. You helped keep the PATRIOT Act from being reauthorized, and now I need your help again to protect our civil liberties.
Sincerely,
Russ Feingold
United States Senator
Honorary Chair, Progressive Patriots Fund