ACLU filed Lawsuit against PATRIOT Act

ACLU Challenges Patriot Act

CBS -July 30

The American Civil Liberties Union and Arab American groups have filed a lawsuit challenging parts of the USA Patriot Act, in what the ACLU says is the first direct constitutional attack on the law.

They're opposing rules that let authorities monitor books people read and carry out secret searches.

The challenge was jointly announced Wednesday by the ACLU in Michigan and Portland, Ore.

The suit specifically challenges Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which contains the controversial provision which gives the FBI expanded powers in terrorism investigations to obtain records and other "tangible things" from entities that include libraries and internet providers.

"By compromising the rights to privacy, free speech, and due process, Section 215 violates the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments of the United States Constitution," reads the complaint. "Plaintiffs respectfully seek a declaration that Section 215 is facially unconstitutional, and a permanent injunction against its enforcement."

The U.S. Supreme Court had declined without comment to consider an earlier ACLU challenge to the government's expanded surveillance powers under the act.

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printed from ACLU filed Lawsuit against PATRIOT Act on 2004-06-03 05:56:35