Posted on 10/02/2007 9:57:56 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Former Justice Department Lawyer Says Portions of Eavesdropping Program Were Illegal
Tuesday , October 02, 2007
AP
WASHINGTON — A former top lawyer for the Bush administration on Tuesday said that parts of the President Bush's controversial eavesdropping program were illegal.
There were certain aspects of the Terrorist Surveillance Program "that I could not find the legal support for," Jack Goldsmith, the former head of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, told the Senate Judiciary Committee.
But he would not say exactly what law or constitutional principle the surveillance violated. Goldsmith said the White House has forbidden him from saying anything about the legal analysis underpinning the program — key details long sought by majority Democrats and some Republicans.
Goldsmith served as the Justice Department's top legal adviser to the White House from 2003 to 2004.
The legal rationale for the program is so secretive it was initially not even shared with the general counsel of the National Security Agency, which conducted the surveillance.
Goldsmith said he assumes that the White House does not want the TSP program scrutinized.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I see. Thanks for playing, you disgruntled asshat.
Jack Goldsmith...just another lefty who wants America to lose.
translation: I need money so I’ll blame Republicans and get hired by moveon and Soros.
“But he would not say exactly what law or constitutional principle the surveillance violated.”
“I see. Thanks for playing, you disgruntled asshat.”
No where did it say he was disgruntled. It did say that he was not allowed to say anything. He CAN’T because he was told not to......
“But he would not say exactly what law or constitutional principle the surveillance violated. Goldsmith said the White House has forbidden him from saying anything about the legal analysis underpinning the program — key details long sought by majority Democrats and some Republicans. “
I wish he would have been more specific. I honestly do have some reservations about the eavesdropping progam, but nothing I have seen look out of bounds to me. I am interested, however, if there is evidence to the contrary. It seems to me that running around giving baseless assertions is a sign of the times.
I stand corrected, about the baseless thing. I wonder if the White House can really do such a thing. Seems to me, they would have a tough time prosecuting him, as he would be something of a "hero", at least to a large segment of the population. Hmmmm... makes me wonder.
Not the same as being illegal.
Maybe he should have said there was "no compelling legal authority."
Hey, it was good enough for Al Gore.
He is NOT forbidden from saying exactly WHAT provisions of the Act are illegal. He is not as you claim “forbidden from saying anything” but was forbidden from “saying anything about the legal analysis underpinning the program —”.
The provisions of the Patriot Act are well known to all members of Congress so this man was free to speak out about those specific parts of the PA he claimed were illegal. Once again, he was only forbidden to speak out about the legal analysis of these provisions he “believed” to be illegal.
Of course it doesn't say that. It isn't in the MSM's interest to point that fact out.
It did say that he was not allowed to say anything. He CAN’T because he was told not to......
Except that he's got an entire book out about the administration's surveillance program entitled The Terror Presidency
So he's talking all day long about the Administration to Bill Moyers and any other leftie who will listen - but he keeps it to nasty anecdotes and insinuation rather than being a man and discussing the legal substance.
Goldsmith said the White House has forbidden him from saying anything about the legal analysis underpinning the program — key details long sought by majority Democrats and some Republicans.
If he feels that strongly about it he can legally challenge the administration and speak his mind.
No, the reason why the MSM and the left adulates this individual is because he is a disgruntled former insider who gladly badmouths evil Chimpy while supplying no meaningful information on the substance of the program.
“There were certain aspects of the Terrorist Surveillance Program “that I could not find the legal support for”
How does his ignorance make the program illegal?
I don’t know his ideology, but he’s a natural leftist.
That didn't stop the people from doing that either.
It is called WAR!
I assume the White House asserted attorney-client privilege, in which case he could face disbarment for testifying.
How convenient. He knows it broke the law but he doesn't know how. Brilliant. Maybe he should consult a lawyer.
“that I could not find the legal support for,”
The headline is a LIE!
For it to be “illegal” he would have to have found a law “prohibiting” the action.
No such claim is made.
The "White House" is the US Executive and he was an employee of the US Executive.
If he was an outside attorney employed by the US Executive then there might be privilege to assert.
But a corporation's internal counsel cannot hide malfeasance by the corporation by claiming that his employer is also his client.
Not to mention, there are a raft of federal whistleblower laws that shield him from adverse consequences.
Yeah, so did some leftist Bushhating judge.
What of it?
:)
If it is his belief that the surveillance conducted under DOJ auspices is in fact illegal, then he is relieved of his obligation.
I heard him on NPR this morning (please forgive me). He hinted that it violated FISA. However, those parts of FISA are unconstitutional.
I wonder if it occurred to this asshat that we don't want it "scrutinized" by enemies of the United States that would use it to their advantage in exploiting weaknesses in our defenses.
Letting details of the program out to Senators is one and the same as delivering the details Priority Mail to terrorists.
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