[Infowarrior] - NSA Domestic Surveillance Began 7 Months Before 9/11, Convicted Qwest CEO Claims

[Richard Forno]

NSA Domestic Surveillance Began 7 Months Before 9/11, Convicted Qwest CEO
Claims
By Ryan Singel EmailOctober 11, 2007 | 6:20:59 PMCategories: NSA

follow qwest down the rabbit holeDid the NSA's massive call records database
program pre-date the terrorist attacks of 9/11?

That startling allegation is in court documents released this week which
show that former Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio -- the head of the only company
known to have turned down the NSA's requests for Americans' phone records --
tried, unsuccessfully, to argue just that in his defense against insider
trading charges.

Nacchio was sentenced to 6 years in prison in 2007 after being found guilty
of illegally selling shares based on insider information that the company's
fortunes were declining.  Nacchio unsuccessfully attempted to defend himself
by arguing that he actually expected Qwest's 2001 earnings to be higher
because of secret NSA contracts, which, he contends, were denied by the NSA
after he declined in a February 27, 2001 meeting to give the NSA customer
calling records, court documents released this week show.

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http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/10/nsa-asked-for-p.html