April 24, 2008
Source: KMTR-TV
Wire Service: AP
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24293684/
Lawyers for the Oregon chapter of the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation say the Bush administration is using the so-called state secrets privilege as a "killer bullet" to shut down warrantless wiretapping cases.
The defunct Islamic charity was based in Saudi Arabia but had a chapter in Ashland, Oregon.
Last year, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals barred foundation lawyers from using a National Security Agency call log as evidence the Bush administration eavesdropped on its attorneys.
The administration invoked the state secrets privilege, arguing that releasing the call log would harm national security by publicly disclosing spying techniques.