NSA whistleblower subpoenaed by federal grand jury RAW STORY

Published: Friday July 28, 2006 Print This | Email This A former National Security Agency signals intelligence expert has been called before a grand jury, RAW STORY has learned. Russell Tice, an important source for the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times report by James Risen and Eric Lichtblau on the NSA's warrentless eavesdropping activities, was served papers by two FBI agents outside his home on Wednesday, July 26th. Tice must appear in court on August 2nd "to testify and answer questions concerning possible violations of federal criminal law." In a statement issued by the National Security Whistleblowers Coalition, of which Tice is a member, he declared "This latest action by the government is designed only for one purpose: to ensure that people who witness criminal action being committed by the government are intimidated into remaining silent." The NSWBC also accused the government of trying to use this subpoena to prevent Tice from being able to publicly confirm the existence of the controversial NSA program. The lack of reliable public information on the NSA wiretapping effort has been used to bolster the "state secrets" defense in a number of cases filed against the government by civil liberties organizations and other groups. The full text of the press release is available at NSWBC's website.



