Feds to pay $2.5 million over 'terrorist' wiretaps

[IDemo]

Source: Associated Press

By PAUL ELIAS
The Associated Press
updated 1 hour 36 minutes ago 2010-12-22T08:23:36


SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge Tuesday ordered the U.S. government to pay more than $2.5 million in attorney fees and damages after he concluded investigators wiretapped the phones of a suspected terrorist organization without a warrant.

U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker said the attorneys for the Ashland, Oregon chapter of the now-defunct Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation should receive $2.5 million for waging its nearly five-year legal challenge to the Bush administration's so-called Terrorist Surveillance Program.

Walker also awarded $20,400 each to Wendell Belew and Asim Ghafoor, two of the foundation's Washington D.C.-based lawyers. They had their phone conversations with Al-Haramain principals monitored, the judge said.

Earlier this year the judge found that investigators illegally intercepted the electronic communications without warrants. Government lawyers have refused throughout the litigation to disclose whether investigators eavesdropped, "although the fact of such surveillance is not in doubt," the judge concluded.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40777042/ns/us_news-security/

[sabrina 1]

1. At least someone understands the rule of law in this country.

An encouraging sign, and a courageous decision by this judge who will now be vilified by the 'terra terra' crowd who think we can't chew gum and walk at the same time. Can't keep our civil rights and deal with terrorists according the wimpy, cowardly, whiny mob of rabid, ignorant rightwing Faux indoctrinated morons.

Fox will have a field day and Bill O'Reilly will be calling for the death penalty for this judge.

Thank YOU Judge Vaugn Walker. We need more people with the intelligence and courage to put a stop to the lawlessness in the name of terror in this country.

[Demeter]

2. May This Be The Beginning of the End of Fascism in This Country

and not a mere speed bump on the road to enslavement.

[ThomThom]

3. so because Bush couldn't follow the law, terrorist groups get money

he should be arrested

[truth2power]

4. That's "suspected" terrorist. And I assume that "he" refers to

GW Bush and not the judge. Yes, Bush should have been arrested long ago.

[glowing]

5. There is a reason laws should be followed.. otherwise, any evidence

they could have is thrown out, and they were sued for violating rights.

On the other hand, some of these "terrorist" groups were only guilty of sending clothes and supplies to Palestinian children... and because the group on the receiving end may have some Hamas affiliation, the group donating becomes flagged as "terrorist" when really they are just trying to feed and clothe children. On the other hand, some of these charities in other countries really do act as fronts for terrorist activity. One would think 10yrs after 9/11, there would be some sort of list that our govt recognizes as a true charity organization and those that are just front groups. Instead, our FBI runs around helping their would be bombers plan and acquire materials to bomb something.

[Downwinder]

6. Who is paying the bill -- the taxpayer. Not those responsible.

Still no accountability.

[sofa king]

7. Was it the John Kerry presidential campaign organization of 2004?

[stray cat]

8. Maybe the conversations that were wire tapped can be posted on wikileaks so

The rest of us can know everything the government heard