Today Judge Richard J. Leon a federal judge for the Washington, D.C. district who was appointed by then-President George W. Bush, ordered an injunction against the National Security Agency’s controversial bulk-surveillance program.
Here is U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s statement:
“When exposed to the sunlight of Constitutional scrutiny, this massive secret surveillance program could not stand. An independent court, hearing both sides of the argument, has protected precious liberties and rights. Congress must act to create a Special Advocate, which I’ve urged, so unconstitutional surveillance is stopped before privacy is invaded illegally – as it was here for a decade. The court has said what I and others have argued for so long: the NSA’s bulk data program, which went unscrutinized because it was shrouded in secrecy, poses a clear danger to legally protected liberty and privacy rights. Now, Congress should act as well by creating greater transparency and a special advocate whose client is the Constitution to advocate on behalf of Americans’ liberty and privacy.”