Former Bush administration lawyer questions eavesdropping program

[sabra]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - A former top lawyer for the Bush administration today 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.

Read more: http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/politics/view.bg?articleid=1035519

[Didereaux]

1. lets see, he says it was illegal, but....

Let me get this straight...he says some of it was/is illegal, but he can't say because the Whitehouse told him he had to keep quiet. Say, now THERE'S a defense that would hold up in criminal court! Look Judge, my client knew it was a crime to rob the bank, but the leader told him he had to and could not talk about it, so how could he confess or turn them in?

some frikkin' lawyers make me sick...this guy obviously took the Gonzalez Night School Law Degree.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. Ex-Justice lawyer says wiretap program illegal

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - A former top lawyer for the Bush administration on Tuesday said that parts of the government's much-criticized eavesdropping program were illegal.

There were 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.

As the Justice Department's top legal adviser to the White House from 2003 to 2004, Goldsmith was in charge of writing formal legal opinions and interpretations for the executive branch.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21105606/

[muntrv]

3. That's why he's and EX. He wouldn't drink the kool aid.

[annabanana]

4. "the White House has forbidden him from saying anything"

I really really really wish he would say something anyway. .

[Supersedeas]

5. nothing to see here -- feed them more Brittney custody bunk