Posted on 03/21/2006 7:20:40 PM PST by Jay777
The American Civil Liberties Union is renewing its efforts to pry loose secret data about individuals and organizations that local governments consider potential terrorist threats.
After litigating the issue for nearly two years, the group's New Jersey chapter is filing requests under the state's Open Public Records Act, seeking information contained on applications for federal anti-terror funding. The applications list up to 15 "potential threat elements" _ individuals or groups that could be considered potential terrorist threats.
The ACLU is seeking the disclosure of the names of the individuals or groups, or failing that, the criteria used to select them for inclusion on the list.
"Sadly, we know that the federal government has recently spied on or targeted organizations, such as the Quakers and pro-peace groups, not because they pose a threat but rather due to their political beliefs," said Edward Barocas, the ACLU's legal director. "We want to make sure that our own New Jersey government officials are not doing likewise."
It's not the first time the group has sought the information. It filed an initial request with 50 New Jersey municipalities in April 2004.
Most responded that they had not filed such documents, but some claimed the records were exempt from disclosure on security grounds, or that the state Attorney General's Office had ordered them not to make the data public.
After the ACLU sued the Attorney General's Office, it said it had not instructed anyone to withhold the information.
That led the ACLU to send new requests for the information to nine municipalities: Edison, Linden, Middletown, Mount Laurel, Newark, Parsippany, Trenton, Wayne and West New York.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
PING!
The ACLU's roundabout way of asking to see its FBI file.
No doubt you are right, because the FBI does have files on them that they are concerned about. Do they really have a legal right to this info?
Thoughts freepers?
So what happens when President Hillary identifies Free Republic as a potential terrorist threat and opens up FBI files on indvidual FReepers?
I need more to help put together this post. Any one have some deep thoughts on this, or research?
My first thought whenever I see ACLU anywhere in print....Arrest every ACLU Member and summarily execute them.
[After the ACLU sued the Attorney General's Office, it said it had not instructed anyone to withhold the information.]
I'm certainly no lawyer but they don't let attorney's go on fishing expeditions in trials. How can the ACLU go on fishing expeditions by suing different agencies at random for supposed violations of law?
That would be sad, as far fetched as it is, but...would the ACLU have the right to get that file? And then let us assume that some of the files were legit, and some were bogus..just for arguments sake. Would we really want the ACLU releasing the info altogeher? An investigation is one thing...if they can't find anything to charge you on...but what of the legit groups that got released and jeapordized the investigations?
Please expand on that thought for me...I'm not quite clear what you are saying. Sorry.
Related:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1559773/posts
Rosenbergs’ Granddaughter Sues NSA Over Spying - Rachel Meeropol
In that case we know she had terrorist ties. This particular one is more vague, and thats why I'm having a harder time with and asking for help.
I'd hate to ask the ACLU for help, but if She Who Must Not Be Named is elected, they could turn out to be our best friends.
After the Attorney General's Office was sued and they said they didn't do it, they immediately turned around and sued 7 or 8 municipalities and it sounded like it was at random. It didn't say anything about them having cause to sue them.
You didn't read the thread. Rachel belongs to the NLG. That is partnered with the ACLU.
I think they are seeking the list for potential clients. Do you really trust the ACLU with terrorist watchlists?
Which is exactly why we should be VERY careful about giving the government any additional powers, even if the people currently in office mean well and are the ones we supported in the election.
One of these days, the powers usurped for terrorists and drug dealers will be used for Bibles and guns.
completely redacted but the words 'the', 'it', 'and', 'to', 'of' and 'a'.
They'll not be able to request it again, as they'll already have it. End of story.
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