U.S sues Maine, Verizon to block NSA revelations

Portland Press Herald ^ | August 22, 2006 | Elbert Aull

[mad_mainiac]

The federal government filed a lawsuit against state officials and Verizon Communications Monday to prevent the release of information about the company's alleged role in the National Security Agency's domestic surveillance program.

The lawsuit comes after 22 residents asked the state's Public Utilities Commission to investigate whether Verizon provided federal agents with information that could have resulted in the warrantless surveillance of telephone calls.

[mad_mainiac]

Talk about 'useful idiots'. It is a shame what has happened to this once proud state.

[theDentist]

More of the "Lookit me!" crowd vying for attention.

[Edgerunner]

Leftist article posted by newbie...hummmmmmm

[untrained skeptic]

I'd say this "investigation" by the public utilities commission (PUC) should be put on hold until the appeals process for determining if the NSA program is legal has run it's course.

If the program is determined to be legal, then I don't think the PUC's investigation should go forward.

If the program is determined to not be legal, there's still a valid question if what was done should be exposed, and if Verizon's actions were reasonable and should be kept confidential.

Verizon is a private entity that provides services under contract and has contractual and legal responsibilities to protect the privacy of their customers. Those customers do have a right to know if Verizon is upholding their responsibility, however in this case their responsibilities to their customers may have been overridden by other legal responsibilities.

However, it seems pointless to investigate this issue until the legality of the program is determined.

[Calpernia]

Welcome to FR

[HawaiianGecko]

"Suing the states who dare to ask questions is the federal government's way of keeping the public in the dark about its actions," said Shenna Bellows, executive director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union.

That's a good and desirable thing Shenna!

[Valin]

?
1 Everyone was a newbie at some point.
2 You've never posted anything from a "Leftist" site?
3 To some of us you'd be a newbie.

Valin
Since May 31, 1998

[Edgerunner]

Well I can't argue with you, since I admire your activity on this site. Sorry if I overstepped my bounds...

[Valin]

Probably a little harsher than I should've been.

Sorry if I overstepped my bounds...

You DO of course understand that you are the 1st Freeper that's ever done that!
And for $20.00 I'll forgive you.
I may not be easy but I am cheap.

[shalom aleichem]

Absolutely right. I see nothing wrong with trolling the leftist sites from time to time to see what they are up to. I appreciate the posting of information like this (US sues Maine to keep program secret). How else would we know? Who normally cares what happens in Maine? Except I assume GHWB still has his compound at Kennebunkport?

[Edgerunner]

Sorry, I just thought it odd that there wasn't a barf alert or something to warn me and since they were 4 days old I thought...well glasshouse/stones...Thanks for the guidance.

[ladyjane]

Maine, eh?

Didn't Mohammad Atta fly out of Portland, Maine on 9/11?