Iceland Summons US Envoy Over Moves Against Pro-WikiLeaks MP
US Sought to Keep Info-Hunting Subpoenas Secret
US Ambassador to Iceland Luis Arreaga has been summoned by that nation’s foreign ministry to answer questions about the Justice Department’s attempt to subpoena secret information from MP Birgitta Jonsdottir’s twitter account.
Jonsdottir is an outspoken free speech supporter and has past ties with WikiLeaks. It is assumed that the efforts to subpoena her account information, as well as that of a number of other people, is related to the Justice Department’s effort to find something with which to charge those affiliated with the site. Iceland’s Interior Ministry said it was concerning that the US was trying to acquire such information about any of its citizens, and “even more serious when put in perspective and concerns freedom of speech.”
Indeed, Jonsdottir says she believes the subpoena is centered chiefly around intimidating her and others associated with WikiLeaks, and it does seem pretty unlikely that the Justice Department will manage to cull enough data from Twitter for a criminal case.
At the same time, the Justice Department apparently attempted to keep the subpoenas secret, ordering Twitter not to inform those users who were targeted. Twitter is believed to have challenged to order, which was unsealed shortly thereafter.
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the lion
January 10th, 2011 at 6:36 am
I wonder what a United States Senator would say if a foreign Country tried to suppeona the Senators Private documents?
Me thinks that the Senator would jump up and down and make a HUGE noise.
It seems the US Congress hasnt understood why the world is laughing at them in relation to Wikileaks, Congressmen and Senators its that you think you have extra Jurisdictional Powers, the same Powers that you say OTHER Countries havent got in relation to American Citizens.
thedissenter
January 10th, 2011 at 11:27 am
Jonsdottir should take that subpoena, use it as toilet paper and return it to Holder in a sealed envelope.
MK Ultra
January 10th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Kick the US embassador out of Iceland. That ought to teach ‘em a lesson. Nobody needs the US, Iceland least of all. If other countries start doing this, the bully will get the message.
JLS
January 10th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
the biggest thing wikileaks has exposed has been that the US government is a hysterical wannabe police state. This may indeed be the biggest and most lasting effect of wikileaks. Finally the Europeans and others around the world are waking up to the monster they have helped create by ceding leadership of the whole world to Washington.
wdgray
January 10th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Having spent a year in Iceland this subppoena is another attempt by the U.S. Government to rule the world. When will we wake up?