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18 FEB
08 / "Congress Fumbles FISA"
The Democrats in
Congress have allowed the Foreign
Intelligence and Surveillance Act to lapse.
It had been granted a 4 month extension by
Congress before the end of last year.
Terrorist
Surveillance Act was passed by the Senate,
but leaders in the Democratic majority
blocked the legislation from coming to a
vote in the House.
domestic
eavesdropping
What happens
with criminal evidence gathered that does
not pertain to terrorism?
immunity to
companies that help the federal government
access communications between
In remarks at
his most recent press conference, President
Bush asserted that private
telecommunications companies will not likely
help the federal government gather
intelligence on terrorist plots if they can
be the target of future lawsuits.
The legislation
grants companies retroactive immunity from
lawsuits that provided the United States
with information after the
monitor
communications between suspected terrorists.
lawyers will be able to sue telephone
companies that have granted the government
access to those phone calls and emails.
class-action
lawsuits seeking billions of dollars in
damages
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