HUGE: Defense Lawyers Plan Challenges Over Spy Efforts - NYT (Padilla?)

Defense Lawyers Plan Challenges Over Spy Efforts

By ERIC LICHTBLAU
and JAMES RISEN
Published: December 28, 2005

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 - Defense lawyers in some of the country's biggest terrorism cases say they plan to bring legal challenges to determine whether the National Security Agency used illegal wiretaps against several dozen Muslim men tied to Al Qaeda. The lawyers said in interviews that they wanted to learn whether the men were monitored by the agency and, if so, whether the government withheld critical information or misled judges and defense lawyers about how and why the men were singled out.

The expected legal challenges, in cases from Florida, Ohio, Oregon and Virginia, add another dimension to the growing controversy over the agency's domestic surveillance program and could jeopardize some of the Bush administration's most important courtroom victories in terror cases, legal analysts say.

The question of whether the N.S.A. program was used in criminal prosecutions and whether it improperly influenced them raises "fascinating and difficult questions," said Carl W. Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond who has studied terrorism prosecutions. "It seems to me that it would be relevant to a person's case," Professor Tobias said. "I would expect the government to say that it is highly sensitive material, but we have legal mechanisms to balance the national security needs with the rights of defendants. I think judges are very conscientious about trying to sort out these issues and balance civil liberties and national security."

SNIP

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/28/politics/28legal.html?hp&ex=1135746000&en=8778e8e441c81c90&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Fodder for the Right? I am sure some will try and use it. The wiretap story is tearing down the bridges now.

And the Bush take over will be complete as they give Bush the judicial go ahead.

And we thoguht the neocons were stupid. They leaked the spying scandal on purpose to force the issue to move through the courts to the SCOTUS. Where Bush's new appointiees will tip the balance of power intop Bush's hands.

I detect a third Bush reich.

After this shit, I think Alito's chance for SC is not as good!

Now you have really:scared: the you know what out of me!!! Just the thought of it??????????? WE CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN !!!!!

First of all, these are NOT the cases we want before the courts the cases we want before the courts are the peace activists, the catholic groups, John Q citizen.

attention, instead of less?

the administration may have self-sabotaged their own cases....their incompetence is making us less safe rather than safer.

edited for spelling...

Bring the fucker down!

Now how can we get this across as a talking point!?


Cher

Bush protected us by blowing "some of the country's biggest terrorism cases". Nice job, Dubya!

Tee...and may I be so bold as to add...Hee.