In a pair of major rulings related to the massive warrantless wiretapping scandal of the past several years, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the “retroactive immunity” from lawsuit granted by the US Congress to telecoms that unlawfully cooperated with the wiretaps is constitutional.
On the other hand, the court also ruled that individual victims of the wiretapping scheme have the right to sue the US government for its role in the taps, allowing the Jewel v. NSA trial to proceed.
The decision in the first case, Hepting v. AT&T, came in part on the basis of the other case, with the ability to sue the government seen as a key point in favor of protecting the telecoms. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, which was involved in the lawsuits, says it believes the Obama Administration will continue to try to bury Jewel v. NSA on “national secrecy” grounds, but that similar cases have already rejected that line of defense.
The Hepting v. AT&T case was filed in 2006 on behalf of Tash Hepting around the company giving the NSA full access to its databases in aiding illegal wiretaps. The Jewel v. NSA case was filed in September 2008 on behalf of Carolyn Jewel and others (including Hepting) charging the NSA with soliciting the illegal access and performing the illegal wiretaps.
Now isn't that just Precious?
The corporations — without whose technological participation and cooperation the wiretapping could not have happened — can't be sued; presumably, after all, they were only following orders (ie, the Nuremberg Defense).
But the government CAN be sued. Right.
The only way this government will be sued is when Washington DC is Invaded, "Liberated," and Occupied, and these people — all the way back to the beginning of the Carter-Bush-Clinton-Cheney-Obama Regime — are brought to justice before a War Crimes Tribunal.
Committee to Confront, Combat, Defeat, and Destroy The Fourth Reich
You should also take into consideration the source of money. Government = taxpayers' dollars. Corporations = profits for CEOs and shareholders. When in doubt, follow the money, it will always lead you to the truth.
Roger, That.
That's why Following the Money leads me further and further away from "The Official Conspiracy Story" about the so-called "Terror Event" opf September 11, 2001.
In moments of anguish and doubt, i just try remember that principal Principle of Criminal Investigation and Prosecution: CUI BONO? Who Benefits.
Yes, Sirie. At first, I swallowed the whole story, hook, line and sinker. As time started to pass and, particularly after the passing of the [un]Patriot Act, I started to doubt the motives. I don't doubt anymore, I may have no proof but I know in my heart that things are not as we've been told. Too many people have benefited too much from the madness that has followed too much has been taken away and too much has been lost for it not to have been self-inflicted. These bastards planned that for years, right down to the stealing of the election in 2000.
It's all a big show and nothing will ever come of it. The government will continue doing anything it wants to do and without a revolution, there is not a damn thing anyone can do about it.
Retroactive immunity is constitutional??? Retroactive ANYTHING is a corrupt abomination and is inherently unconstitutional. Allow these corrupt lunatics to declare anything retroactive and they will absolutely, guaranteed, hokey up "retroactive" laws making a million and one currently legal things illegal at the whims of an insane executive branch.. or even an insane municipal body.. that is to say, anyone who can pressure a jurist to issue these unlawful and tyrannical rulings.
Makes perfect sense to me. The "US" operates with taxpayers dollars, the corporations don't. Well, except for those on Wall Street, of course. We can't deprive the CEOs of money which, otherwise, would go to good use buying bling for their mistresses, more McMansions, yachts, etc.
What a great place to live, the U.S. The laws change every second hour and what rights its citizens had are being rapidly stripped away.
AND THE PEOPLE DO NOTHING!
As if the US government would ever "allow" you to win your case. Pot calling kettle black arguments it will use. "National Security" you peasants!
Exactly right. Any lawsuit will collapse as soon as the FedGov invokes the state secrets "privilege" to keep all incriminating evidence from ever seeing the light of day. Once again, the citizenry is screwed.
Even if a lawsuit were successful, nobody can really believe that the wiretapping would stop. It would just become more covert than it is now. The Feds respecting your privacy? Ha Ha Ha.