CIVIL LIBERTIES -- OBAMA ADMINISTRATION INVOKES 'STATE SECRETS' CLAIM TO DEFEND BUSH'S WIRETAPPING PROGRAM: The Obama administration is "
invoking government secrecy in defending the Bush administration's wiretapping program" against a lawsuit brought by AT&T customers who claim "federal agents illegally intercepted their phone calls and gained access to their records." Justice Department lawyers yesterday demanded a dismissal of
the Electronic Frontier Foundation lawsuit against former Bush officials, arguing that the information constitutes privileged "
state secrets." Moreover, the DOJ claims the Patriot Act bars lawsuits against "illegal government surveillance unless there is '
willful disclosure' of the illegally intercepted communications." The San Francisco Chronicle
reports that disclosure of the information sought by the customers "would cause exceptionally grave harm to national security," according to Justice Department lawyers.
Kevin Bankston of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a lawyer for the customers, said the filing was disappointing, particularly after the Obama presidential campaign's "unceasing criticism of Bush-era secrecy and promise for more transparency."