Blog of Rights

Caroline
Fredrickson

ACLU Asks Next President to Investigate NSA Wiretapping and Release Documents

By Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office & Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office at 2:08pm

The legislative battle over gutting the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act will resume in the Senate in Washington on July 8.

Without a dramatic turnaround, it appears we will lose this important fight in the Senate over the gutting of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Amendments, including the one likely offered by Senators Dodd and Feingold to strip immunity from the bill are a valiant attempt to improve the bill. However such amendments are not likely to stem the tide of what looks to be certain passage of an unconstitutional bill. Nor are they likely to stop a final bill that immunizes the telecommunications companies that broke the law.

ACLU Asks Next President to Investigate NSA Wiretapping and Release Documents

By Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office & Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office at 2:08pm

The legislative battle over gutting the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act will resume in the Senate in Washington on July 8.

Without a dramatic turnaround, it appears we will lose this important fight in the Senate over the gutting of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Amendments, including the one likely offered by Senators Dodd and Feingold to strip immunity from the bill are a valiant attempt to improve the bill. However such amendments are not likely to stem the tide of what looks to be certain passage of an unconstitutional bill. Nor are they likely to stop a final bill that immunizes the telecommunications companies that broke the law.

Caroline Fredrickson: It's Time to Turn on the Cameras and Stop Torture

By Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office & Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office at 4:09pm

Last night, the House of Representatives adopted an important provision to end torture and abuse during interrogations. While the amendment's name sounds like an unpronounceable law firm: the Holt/Tauscher/Grijalva/Schakowsky Amendment (to the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act), the effect of the amendment, if enacted, would be powerful. The amendment requires the recording and retention of videos of interrogations of people in the Defense Department's custody. The amendment would bring these interrogations into line with recommended best practices for military and law enforcement interrogations — increasing accountability for compliance with anti-torture laws.

Caroline Fredrickson: It's Time to Turn on the Cameras and Stop Torture

By Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office & Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office at 4:09pm

Last night, the House of Representatives adopted an important provision to end torture and abuse during interrogations. While the amendment's name sounds like an unpronounceable law firm: the Holt/Tauscher/Grijalva/Schakowsky Amendment (to the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act), the effect of the amendment, if enacted, would be powerful. The amendment requires the recording and retention of videos of interrogations of people in the Defense Department's custody. The amendment would bring these interrogations into line with recommended best practices for military and law enforcement interrogations — increasing accountability for compliance with anti-torture laws.

McConnell Can't Stop Lying

By Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office & Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office at 3:33pm
This week, during remarks in St. Mary's City, Maryland, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell claimed that "weak" wiretapping laws were at fault for the events of September 11, 2001. In his remarks, McConnell said that those planning the attacks were under the radar of law enforcement because they had not broken any laws and there was no probable cause

McConnell Can't Stop Lying

By Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office & Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office at 3:33pm
This week, during remarks in St. Mary's City, Maryland, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell claimed that "weak" wiretapping laws were at fault for the events of September 11, 2001. In his remarks, McConnell said that those planning the attacks were under the radar of law enforcement because they had not broken any laws and there was no probable cause

Senator Feingold on Upcoming FISA Battle

By Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office & Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office at 2:17pm
Today Senator Russ Feingold blogged in his DailyKos Diary about the upcoming FISA battle in the Senate. He discusses the strengths of the Judiciary Committee bill, and gives a rundown of flaws of the lesser Intelligence Committee bill.

Senator Feingold on Upcoming FISA Battle

By Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office & Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office at 2:17pm
Today Senator Russ Feingold blogged in his DailyKos Diary about the upcoming FISA battle in the Senate. He discusses the strengths of the Judiciary Committee bill, and gives a rundown of flaws of the lesser Intelligence Committee bill.

Protect America by Passing Protections

By Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office & Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office at 2:49pm
As of late, there's been some discussion on DailyKos and other blogs regarding an extension of the Protect America Act (PAA), since it expires on February 1 and the Senate has yet to return, debate, vote and conference with the House o

Protect America by Passing Protections

By Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office & Caroline Fredrickson, Washington Legislative Office at 2:49pm
As of late, there's been some discussion on DailyKos and other blogs regarding an extension of the Protect America Act (PAA), since it expires on February 1 and the Senate has yet to return, debate, vote and conference with the House o
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