Patriot Act Ruled Unconstitutional By U.S. Judge

A law allowing federal anti-terrorism agents to access information on the U.S. public without a warrant has been ruled as unconstitutional by a US judge in Washington D.C.

Victor Marrero said Congress exceeded its authority by allowing the FBI to keep requests secret under the Patriot Act, passed after the 9/11 attacks.

He said the act offended constitutional principles of checks and balances, and violated the guarantee of free speech.

The requests were mainly for financial, telephone and internet records on suspected terrorist in the U.S.

Judge Marrero said his ruling would not take effect immediately, thus giving the government time to appeal.

The Patriot Act allows for the use of national security letters, or administrative subpoenas, in cases relating to spying or terrorism.

Under such a subpoena, personal records of clients and customers must be handed over to the FBI from such sources as banks, telephone firms and internet service providers.

Judge Marrero ruled in favour of the American Civil Liberties Union, which had complained against the use of such letters.

He said his ruling did not mean the FBI must get court approval before ordering records, but that it must be able to justify why the request should be kept secret.

In the year before the 11 September 2001 attacks, the FBI issued about 8,500 national security letter requests.

A government report earlier this year said requests had risen from 39,000 in 2003 to about 56,000 in 2004 before falling back to about 47,000 in 2005.
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Judge Throws Out Parts of the Revised Patriot Act

WXXA FOX 23 Albany - (WXXA)

Sep. 07, 2007. 09:35 AM EST

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Report: FBI Abused the Patriot Act

Associated Press - (APTN)

Mar. 09, 2007. 06:21 PM EST

A newly released audit has found that the FBI improperly and, in some cases, illegally obtained personal information about people in the country. (March 9)

Just For Men Osama bin Laden Tape

Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden said he vows to step up the battle in Iraq and mocks the United States in a new video released, his first such appearance in three years.

The video, which U.S. intelligence agencies confirmed as genuine, has sparked an immediate reaction from President George W Bush, who said it showed how dangerous the world remains and how the U.S. must show resolve in Iraq.

Timed to mark the upcoming sixth anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, Mr bin Laden attacks Mr Bush, US neoconservative thinkers and global corporations for fomenting the Iraq war.

He also attacks the U.S. Democratic Party, which he claims has done little to halt the war.

There are two ways to end the Iraq war, he says, according to a transcript released by the U.S. based SITE Intelligence Group which monitors Islamic militant websites.

"The first is from our side, and it is to continue to escalate the killing and fighting against you," he says.

The second, he says, is to do away with the US democratic system of government, which he says merely serves the interests of major corporations.

U.S. intelligence agencies confirmed the voice on the tape likely belonged to Mr bin Laden.

The tape was believed to have been produced as recently as early August because of a reference to the 62nd anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, the official said.

It was the Al-Qaeda leader's first such appearance since October 2004, when he threatened new attacks against the United States in a video just days before U.S. elections.

U.S. authorities were closely examining the video for clues. They said there were no overt threats in his rambling message.


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Bin Laden to U.S.: Convert to Islam

Associated Press - (APTN)

Sep. 07, 2007. 06:05 PM EST

Osama bin Laden appeared for the first time in three years in a videotape released ahead of the 6th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The tape is still being authenticated.

Craig's Political Carrier Down The Toilet?

Republican Idaho Sen. Larry Craig is reconsidering his decision to step down after his arrest in a Minneapolis airport sex sting, according to the Associated Press.

Sidney Smith, Craig’s spokesman, said, “It's not such a foregone conclusion anymore, that the only thing he could do was resign.” Craig, who has represented Idaho in Congress for 27 years, announced Sept. 1 that he plans to resign from the Senate Sept. 30.

However, since that announcement, he has hired prominent attorney Billy Martin who has represented former White House intern Monica Lewinsky and ex-NFL quarterback Michael Vick to explore the possibility of reversing his plea.

Last week, Craig received a call from Republican Sen. Arlen Specter urging the embattled official to fight for his seat. Smith said that the call was a factor in Craig’s rethinking.

Should Craig stay with his initial decision to resign, Republican Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter will choose the senator’s successor.
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Q&A: Sen. Craig's Legal Battle

Associated Press - (APTN)

Sep. 05, 2007. 08:22 PM EST

A legal expert responds to reports Senator Larry Craig is trying to withdraw his guilty plea in a men's room sex sting and would resign only if that fails. (Sept. 5)