Accused spy's lawyers seek phone data

[DoYouEverWonder]

January 7, 2006

CHICAGO -- Lawyers for a Des Plaines man accused of being an Iraqi spy want to know if his phone calls were recorded under the Bush administration's controversial domestic surveillance program.

An attorney for Sami Khoshaba Latchin sent a letter this week to federal prosecutors, asking "whether the Bush administration has authorized the interception of Sami Latchin's communications without a court order."

The Jan. 3 letter also asks whether Latchin is now under surveillance.

Under the domestic spying program, the National Security Agency intercepted certain telephone calls and e-mails without the usual court approvals.

"If there are calls out there, we want to know," Mary H. Judge, Latchin's defense attorney, said Friday. "There are a lot of problems with the system."

A spokesman for U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald declined to comment.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/yahoo/chi-0601070197jan07,1,1771504.story?coll=chi-newsaol-headlines

[Flabbergasted]

1. This is a very significant court case that sould arrive in the S.C.

[Kagemusha]

3. Uh no it's not.

If he's an agent of a foreign power they CAN do it without a warrant.

[HereSince1628]

4. hmmm, as far as I can see he's only accused of being a spy.

If he's a citizen or a legal immigrant, by law he can't be spied on without a warrant.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Bush's crimes in this area have opened a big can of worms

even in legitimate cases. All these defendents can now question the validity of the evidence on the basis that Bush has admitted to illegal spying.

[Straight Shooter]

2. Thank you, bush, for throwing a monkey wrench into the justice system.

Happy now, Dictatortot?

I wonder how many hours and taxpayer dollars will be wasted trying to fix this mess bush created with his need to spy and pretend he's a dictator.

[No Exit]

6. I can't wait till Irving "Scooter" Libby raises this in his defense

"Dear Mr. Fitzgerald:

We hereby request that you inform us whether the Bush administration has authorized the interception of Irving Scooter Libby's communications without a court order. We have this day filed a Motion with the court to compel you to give us this information.

Robert Luskin

Of counsel: Various other clowns"

Scooter's probably in there telling them, "Yeah, hey, I was in on that NSA stuff... I was able to listen to my own private conversations with you and others, from a remote location... therefore, my rights have been violated! We conducted an illegal, warrantless search of me! I demand that we be arrested and that the evidence gathered from that search be excluded from the trial!"