Plaintiffs in a case against C.I.A. surveillance of U.S. citizens visiting Julian Assange in London discussed the judge’s decision to reject the C.I.A.’s motion to dismiss the suit.
PRESS CONFERENCE: US Judge Allows Lawsuit Against CIA by Assange Visitors to Move Forward
Lead attorney Richard Roth of The Roth Law Firm, along with plaintiffs Margaret Ratner Kunstler, a civil rights lawyer, and media lawyer Deborah Hrbek, held a ZOOM press conference on Friday to discuss their victory in our in their lawsuit against the C.I.A. for allegedly violating their Fourth Amendment rights.
Judge John G. Koeltl of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan rejected a C.I.A. motion to dismiss the lawsuit brought by four American citizens alleging they were wrongfully spied on while visiting Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in London in an illicit scheme to seize the plaintiff’s electronic devices.
In his 27-page decision, Koetl said: “[t]he plaintiffs’ complaint contains sufficient allegations that the C.I.A. and [former C.I.A. Director Mike] Pompeo, through [David] Morales and UC Global, violated their reasonable expectation of privacy in the contents of their electronic devices.”
The Court said that because Pompeo “in an April 2017 speech … Pompeo ‘pledged that his office would embark upon a ‘long term’ campaign against WikiLeaks,’” there was sufficient reason for the case to continue.
Attorney Roth for the plaintiffs said: “We are thrilled that the Court rejected the C.I.A.’s efforts to silence the Plaintiffs, who merely seek to expose the C.I.A.’s attempt to carry out Pompeo’s vendetta against WikiLeaks.”
Please DONATE to CN‘S Winter Fund Drive
Another great story Mr. Lauria. I’ve come to expect nothing less of you, or Consortium News.
We live in a matrix.
We see examples all around us of great buildings and monuments that are erected in honor of those who belong in prison, while at the same time we see those languishing in prison that should have great buildings and monuments erected in their honor.
With so much bad news around, it is heartening to see this development. Let’s hope it starts a trend of Assange-favoring decisions.
I have said it before and I will say it again. Julian Assange’s case is solid proof that no good deed goes unpunished.
Sadly, it is the people prosecuting Julian who should be facing trial, which goes to prove that might makes right.
Julian wins one for a change. Hope springs eternal.
Yes, it’s hopeful to see that we do have an honest judge who won’t be intimidated.
Yeeeeesssssss! Some Justice at last—-although Pompus Pompeo —–is not worth discussing.