General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: NSA Staffer: Snowden Didn't Dupe Coworkers Out of Passwords [View all]reACTIONary
(7,201 posts)are convicted criminals who plead guilty or were publically tried and found guilty based on legally collected evidence. That has nothing to do with ex NAZIS, the STASI or the NSA.
"The NSA seems to think it is above the law. I strongly disagree."
The NSA can point to the law that authorizes them to access the phone records. The other day I was at a town meeting held by Ben Cardin. He was asked about the NSA and the phone records. He stated unequivocally that the NSA program was authorized by law. Being a legislator, he ought to know.
"Smith v. Maryland is very familiar to me. The facts were totally different from the current NSA spying program."
This is currently the most widely cited precedent. While the facts may not be "totally different", it seems that it will be argued before the SCOTUS. Until then, Smith v. Maryland and a law that explicitly authorizes the NSA is what we've got.