Posted on 02/16/2006 4:13:12 PM PST by ivyleaguebrat
Federal prosecutors and investigators in Dallas acknowledged in court documents that they mistakenly gave defense lawyers information about the inner-workings of secretive counterterrorism investigations.
It took federal officials four months to discover that in April they had turned over secret court applications for wiretaps, which often have sensitive information from U.S. and foreign intelligence agencies, according to court papers that were unsealed this week.
The materials were given to lawyers for the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development and seven of its senior officers, who have been indicted on charges they illegally funneled millions of dollars to support the Hamas militant group. The U.S. government designated Hamas as a terrorist organization in 1995.
Last month, U.S. District Judge A. Joe Fish sided with prosecutors in ruling that the defense lawyers should not have had access to the materials. The lawyers have been cleared to view documents classified as secret for purposes of preparing their defense, but they may not share the information with the defendants or anyone else.
The case against the now-defunct Muslim charity is built in part on wiretaps, informants and information provided by Israel, according to court documents.
The government intended to turn over intercepted communications in Arabic and summaries of written translations involving three people or organizations that were subject to orders from the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
The 16 boxes of classified information also contained "FISA applications, orders and other related material that should not have been provided to defense counsel," Assistant U.S. Attorney James Jacks wrote in a filing asking for the return of the documents.
Officials blamed the mistake on an unnamed FBI agent and clerical staff who were called in to help copy files because prosecutors and agents familiar with the case were involved in another trial.
Jacks, in a brief conversation with The Associated Press Thursday, declined to comment on the case, pointing instead to the government's numerous filings.
When prosecutors and FBI agents in August realized what had transpired, Jacks unsuccessfully sought access to the room in the courthouse that serves as an office for the defense lawyers in the case.
A few days later, Jacks went to the room and demanded to know what the defense lawyers were doing, Nancy Hollander, a member of the defense team, wrote Judge Fish in August.
The judge ordered the room sealed.
Both government and defense lawyers are barred from discussing exactly what was turned over, but defense lawyers have indicated they believe the information would help their case.
LOL!! hey FReeper FRiend , here in NYC there was a famous bookie joint,
... 14th Street and 8th Ave , if I recall , the sign outside was for a legit biz...
... walk inside and there was just a counter with some guys to take your bets ...
... and , of course the chaulk boards with the track/race/odds [pre OTB]
Well they did work for the federal government.
The ACLU would've accomplished the same thing. It just would've taken them longer.....
Yeah right. Disinformation, more likely.
What in GOD'S name is keeping us from jailing or firing these incompetent buttholes????
Yup.
>>You saw the old movie, "Guys and Dolls"!
>My wife made me do it; but that was a very long time ago and I have since forgiven her.
Heathen. How could you not like the curiosity of Brando belting out a tune? :-) Plus, it's almost respectable masculinity-wise compared with most musicals. Or would you rather see "Hello Dolly"? **shudder**
Some days I am ashamed to live here...
Posted here, thank you little jeremiah:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1568490/posts?page=2244#2244
Just lovely...
Yeah I read that, what a pitiful SNAFU. But, I don't think that the NYT will be able to take any solace in it or use it as a defense against any potential criminal liabilities for their part in the NSA leaks. "But Johnny did it too", is not a winning defense.
NO ONE could make this up.
Ding, ding, ding.
??!! #!#%&!
"No way this was an accident."
My thoughts, exactly...
Traitors are pretty cheap to buy. The Memphis DMV employee agreed to sell drivers licenses to Middle Eastern men living in NYC for a used car and pocket change. The night before she was supposed to appear in court to face charges...she was found burned ALIVE in that used car.
"The night before she was supposed to appear in court to face charges...she was found burned ALIVE in that used car."
Them folks are quite fascinated by fire. What an interesting M.O. they have.
"Defense lawyers have indicated the information would help their case."That's an understatement.Is this another instance of bureaucratic incompetence or something nefarious?
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