FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: (202) 675-2312 or media@dcaclu.org

Washington, DC – Anticipating an important Senate vote on warrantless wiretapping on Monday, January 28, the American Civil Liberties Union released the following statement, which can be attributed to Caroline Fredrickson, director of the Washington Office of the ACLU:

"The Republican shenanigans on warrantless wiretapping are simply playing politics with fear and are unacceptable. The American people and the Democrats in the Senate are not and should not be hoodwinked into giving up vital constitutional freedoms by the Republicans’ incessant fearmongering. We urge senators to vote against cutting off debate on Monday and reject Republican efforts to force the unconstitutional Intelligence Committee bill through the Senate.

"Senators should have the opportunity to consider a wide range of important amendments, including measures on stripping retroactive immunity for telecommunications providers and provisions that would offer increased privacy protections.

"We agree with Senator Feingold when he stated that Monday’s cloture vote will be a test of whether the majority is willing to stand up to the administration and stand up for our rights.

"The truth is, the sunset of the Protect America Act is nothing to be afraid of. Surveillance is always allowable under the tried-and-true Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that’s operated for almost thirty years. Even the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee has said we’re not facing a crisis.

"We urge the Senate to stand firm and not rubberstamp the administration’s warrantless wiretapping."

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