Fergie's Tech Blog

NSA Suit Temporarily Halted

Ryan Singel writes on 27B Stroke 6:

The Electronic Frontier Foundation's lawsuit against AT&T for its alleged complicity in the government's warrantless wiretapping program came to a sharp, though possibly temporary halt Wednesday.

Judge Vaughn Walker, who allowed the suit to go forward despite the government's claim that the lawsuit would endanger national security, called a temporary halt to the proceedings.

AT&T, which had until Thursday to answer the allegations in the EFF's original complaint, told the judge it could not do so without revealing state secrets -- so the company wants not to have to answer until an appeals court hears the government's appeal (and possibly its own as well).

Walker granted the stay, at least until the planned August 8 hearing, when the government and AT&T can argue to have the whole case stayed while both attempt to get the Ninth Circuit to hear their appeal of Walker's decision not to toss the case.

posted by Fergie @ 8/02/2006 07:03:00 PM