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Oversight of Domestic Surveillance Program Shifts to Secret Court

In a letter today to Senators Patrick Leahy and Arlen Specter, Chairman and Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Gonzales stated, “…a Judge of the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA) issued orders authorizing the Government to target for collection international communications into or out of the United States where there is a probable cause to believe that one of the communicants is a member or agent of al Qaeda or an associated terrorist organization. As a result of these orders, any electronic surveillance that was occurring as part of the Terrorist Surveillance Program will now be conducted subject to the approval of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.”
Related documents and information:

  • Comment Of Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee On Revisions Of The NSA Domestic Surveillance Program, January 17, 2007
  • AP: Secret Court to Govern Wiretapping Plan
  • ACLU Demands More Information on “Innovative” Orders Issued by Secret Court
  • EPIC Resources on Domestic Surveillance
  • Related postings on the domestic surveillance program
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