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| For Immediate Release | Sep 27, 2007 |
Libertarian Party Hails Patriot Act Ruling
Party calls yesterday's ruling on the Patriot Act a "landmark victory for liberty in the United States"
Washington D.C. – In the start of what could be a major setback for the Bush administration, a Federal judge ruled yesterday that portions of the Patriot Act were unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken ruled the government had violated Oregon attorney Brandon Mayfield's constitutional rights after conducting warrantless surveillance using powers granted in the controversial 2001 USA Patriot Act. Previous efforts to challenge the Patriot Act in court have failed after plaintiffs had been unable to prove they had been the subjects of secret government surveillance. Because Mayfield had actually been surveilled and detained after being mistakenly identified as a participant in the 2004 Madrid bombings, his case was taken up in court.
"Yesterday's ruling against the Patriot Act is a landmark victory for liberty in the United States," says Shane Cory, executive director of the Libertarian Party. "Hopefully this ruling will begin to roll back the Bush administration's campaign to marginalize the Constitution in its so-called 'war on terror.' The Libertarian Party praises Judge Aiken's sound and logical ruling in support of Constitutional principles that have been run roughshod by provisions in the Patriot Act. The Constitution has worked time and time again for the past 200 years. There is no reason to believe the tragic events of Sept. 11 changed this fact."
"For over 200 years, this nation has adhered to the rule of law - with unparalleled success," Aiken stated in her ruling. "A shift to a nation based on extra-constitutional authority is prohibited, as well as ill-advised." Aiken ruled that parts of the Patriot Act violated the Fourth Amendment's protection against unlawful search and seizures.
"The protection of liberty is the most essential role of government in society," Cory stated. "But a government cannot protect the freedom of its citizens while limiting it at the same time. This contradiction of the post 9/11 world has often put the agenda of the 'war on terror' at odds with the Constitution. Judge Aiken's ruling clearly demonstrates that the idea of liberty from 200 years ago is a timeless virtue that no arm of government can supersede or destroy."
The Libertarian Party is America's third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.lp.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.
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