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New York terror suspect case could challenge NSA spying
In a case that may provide the first defendant to challenge the constitutionality of warrantless wiretapping by the NSA, federal authorities are refusing to confirm whether such surveillance techniques to foil a New York terror plot. Brothers Raees Alam Qazi, 20, and Sheheryar Alam Qazi, 30, are accused of plotting to blow up a high-profile target in New York. Defense attorneys claim the feds are attempting to avoid a situation the constitutionality of the NSAs surveillance methods would be scrutinized.Wire reported Monday: The government has never publicly conceded it has used evidence in a criminal case obtained through the National Security Agencys post-9/11 mass surveillance program. A single acknowledgment could open the floodgates to challenge the surveillance tactic, which Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer in February noted that commonsense (.pdf) tells us is being employed by federal investigators. The terrorism case concerns brothers Raees Alam Qazi, 20, and Sheheryar Alam Qazi, 30. Among other things, prosecutors said the younger Pakistani-born brother surfed Al-Qaida internet sites to learn how to build a bomb. The FBI recorded telephone calls linking him to a plot to blow up a New York landmark last year. Magistrate [John] OSullivan, agreeing with a defense motion, ordered (.pdf) prosecutors last week to say whether the government first acquired evidence against the indicted brothers (.pdf) using the Bush-style surveillance, and then used that evidence to obtain the traditional warrant from the secret court. The path the authorities chose is relevant for a host of reasons. Among them, the government has never publicly admitted in a prosecution that it employed warrantless surveillance under the FISA Amendments Act. Doing so likely would trigger legal challenges over whether the tactic is constitutional and would threaten the Qazi brothers case and perhaps countless others. This could open the door again at the Supreme Court, said Patrick Toomey, national security fellow at the American Civil Liberties Union. Posted by: tipper 2013-05-13 |
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