September 27, 2009
Updated birth certificate posts/videos/lawsuits
DOJ memo: New State Secrets Policies and Procedures
Policies, Procedures re: Invocation of the State Secrets Privilege
Senator Russ Feingold re: barry’s “new policy” on the State Secrets Privilege
September 23 CommonDreams.org
Sen Russ Feingold (D-WI), cosponsor of the State Secrets Protection Act, legislation to provide guidance to federal courts considering cases in which the government has asserted the state secrets privilege, made the following statement:
The Bush administration’s approach to state secrets was wrong-headed, causing significant public distrust and potentially shielding government wrongdoing and embarrassing mistakes behind a questionable legal doctrine. While I am pleased that the Obama administration recognizes that the Bush approach was a mistake, its new policy is disappointing because it still amounts to an approach of ‘just trust us.’ Independent court review of the government’s use of the state secrets privilege is essential. I urge the administration to work with Congress to develop legislation that sets reasonable limits on the privilege and will not be subject to change under each successive president.
