National Security Letters and Gag Orders Ruled Unconstitutional

 

 

Judge Susan Illston has ruled that the FBI’s pervasive use of National Security letters which were created by the Patriot Act is unconstitutional.

In doing so, she stated that their use (tens of thousands per year) is too broad. Fully 97% of them are issued without the recipients’ names are never mentioned.

"This pervasive use of nondisclosure orders, coupled with the government's failure to demonstrate that a blanket prohibition on recipients' ability ...