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Advocacy Blog
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Judges Don't Seem Likely to Accept State Secrets Privilege
The case involving government spying on the charity, Al-Haramain Foundation has received a lot of blog coverage in light of the contradictory and perplexing claims made by the government lawyers. For example, how can the argument be accepted that national security concerns require that the lawsuits be dismissed when, as Judge Margaret McKeown accurately stated that a lot is known about the surveillance program; "We know quite a lot." And as the Washington Post reported, late in the proceedings, McKeown complained of feeling "like I'm Alice in Wonderland." Read the New York Times story here.
Meanwhile, in a separate case involving the same defunct Islamic charity, the former director pleaded not guilty to federal conspiracy and tax fraud charges after returning voluntarily to the United States to fight the allegations. A federal lawsuit has been filed seeking to remove the Oregon chapter of Al-Haramain from the federal terrorism list.
Posted by Amanda Adams
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