A federal judge in Detroit ruled on August 17th that the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance program is unconstitutional and must be stopped. President Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency program in 2001, and it was revealed in the media last year. The wiretapping suit was filed in Michigan by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a number of journalists, lawyers and scholars who believed their communications had been monitored.

U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor found that the National Security Agency program violated freedom of speech, protections against unreasonable searches and a constitutional check on the power of the presidency. In her 43-page ruling, she wrote, "There are no hereditary kings in America and no powers not created by the Constitution." The Justice Department has appealed the decision and a hearing is set for September 7th. US Attorney General Gonzales, in response to the ruling, said that "The Constitution gives the President the full authority necessary to (protect the American people)," and "the program is lawful and protects civil liberties." The ruling is on hold pending the appeal.

Democracy Now report and interviews | ACLU of Michigan Report | ACLU interviews

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