NY Times sues gov’t for information

Looks like the NY Times isn’t going down without a fight.(AP-Reuters)
I’m using two sources here, because they offer slightly different information.

The Times is suing the DoD, saying that they have refused to turn over requested documents relating to the NSA surveillance program in a timely manner. They are asking that the DoD be compelled to comply with the Freedom of Information Act.

The Times wants a list of documents including all internal memos and e-mails about the program of monitoring phone calls without court approval. It also seeks the names of the people or groups identified by it.

The Times had requested the documents in December under the Freedom of Information Act but sued upon being unsatisfied with the
Pentagon’s response that the request was “being processed as quickly as possible,” according to the six-page suit filed at federal court in New York.

David McCraw, a lawyer for the Times, acknowledged that the list of documents sought was lengthy but that the Pentagon failed to assert there were “unusual circumstances,” a provision of the law that would grant the Pentagon extra time to respond.

The Defense Department, which was sued as the parent agency of the NSA, did not immediately respond to the suit(Reuters)

Reuter’s is 5 hours ahead of Ap reporting, by the way. So, AP does fill in a couple of blanks.

Maj. Susan Idziak, a Defense Department spokeswoman, said the department would work closely with the
Department of Justice on litigation regarding the matter.

The newspaper said it asked for meeting logs, calendar items and notes related to discussions of the program, including meetings held by Vice President
Dick Cheney and his staff with members of Congress and telecommunications executives.

It also requested all complaints of abuse or possible violations in the operations of the program or the legal rationale behind it.

And it sought the names and descriptions of people or groups identified through the use of the program and a description of relevant episodes used to identify the targets of the intercepts.

The lawsuit said the Defense Department acknowledged receipt of the request on Dec. 30, 2005, but the response, required in 20 business days, never came.(AP)

So, supposedly this doesn’t have anything to do with the Justice Dept. investigating the NYT for leaking the NSA story. I don’t know if I believe that or not. But I do think that the NYT is spot on. I’m afraid that the administration won’t comply with any kind of court order, but the Times is standing by it’s right to tell the American people that our government is running on the dark side. I support the Times 100%.

I’m really just glad that they’re keeping this in the front of everything else that is going on. They are, in a way, defending all of our rights against a government that would happily do away with the Constitution all together. I commend them for that. I’m thrilled to see how this is progressing and how we the people aren’t letting this story die. Good going, NYT.