[Infowarrior] - Feingold Targets Immunity For Telecoms

[Richard Forno]

Feingold Targets Immunity For Telecoms
By Daniel W. Reilly

Nov 14, 2007
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/14/politics/politico/thecrypt/main350
3457.shtml

(The Politico) Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) will offer an amendment tomorrow
to remove protections in an update of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Act for telecommunications companies that allegedly helped the
administration monitor electronic communication in the wake of Sept. 11.

Feingold's measure sets up another potential clash over President Bush¹s
electronic surveillance program.

³Granting retroactive immunity for companies that allegedly went along with
this illegal program is unjustified and undermines the rule of law,²
Feingold said in a statement.

³Not only would retroactive immunity set the terrible precedent that
breaking the law is permissible and companies need not worry about the
privacy of their customers, but it would likely prevent courts from ruling
on the President¹s illegal warrantless wiretapping program.²

The amendment will be offered as the Senate Judiciary Committee takes up an
update of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Feingold¹s amendment, however, faces several significant hurdles after the
FISA legislation passed out of the Senate Select Intelligence
Committee‹which has shared jurisdiction on the measure--- with the immunity
provisions still intact.

However, Feingold has plenty of allies in his caucus, including Sen. Chris
Dodd (D-Conn.), who has vowed to place a hold on the bill if it includes the
immunity language.


Copyright 2007 POLITICO