Rand Paul to sue Obama administration over NSA
(CNN) - Sen. Rand Paul will sue President Barack Obama and top officials in the National Security Agency over surveillance.
Paul's political action committee, RandPAC, announced plans by the Kentucky senator and potential 2016 presidential candidate to file a class-action challenge on Wednesday.
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The suit also will name National Intelligence Director James Clapper, outgoing NSA Director Keith Alexander, and FBI Director James Comey.
A firebrand in the Republican Party whose brand of conservatism embraces Libertarian ideals, Paul is an ardent critic of U.S. surveillance programs, which he says infringe on basic civil liberties under the Constitution.
"The Bill of Rights protects all citizens from general warrants. I expect this case to go all the way to the Supreme Court and I predict the American people will win," Paul said in a statement.
Ken Cuccinelli, a former Republican attorney general in Virginia who lost the state’s gubernatorial election last fall, will serve as lead counsel.
Matt Kibbe, president of the tea party-aligned group FreedomWorks, also joined the lawsuit, saying any American with a phone should be invested in his case.
"This class action suit isn't about Republican versus Democrat, or progressive versus conservative. This is about defending the basic civil liberties of every American from a government that has crossed the line," he said. "Never in American history has there been such a warrantless gathering of citizens information. We believe it is time to put this before the courts."
National security leaks about bulk NSA collection of telephone and e-mail data exposed by former agency contractor Edward Snowden last year outraged libertarians, privacy advocates and many members of Congress from both sides of the aisle.
They considered it government overreach in the fight against terrorism.
Obama has defended the programs, but announced modest reforms to NSA's practices.
In a speech at the Justice Department last month, Obama revealed new guidance for intelligence-gathering as well as changes intended to balance what he called the nation's vital security needs with concerns over privacy and civil liberties.
Paul joins a number of anti-NSA activists who are unsatisfied with the proposed changes.
CNN's Alison Harding contributed to this report.
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Please add me. I am tired of them knowing more about me than I know about myself. Someone needs to bring them down they are as bad if not worse than the IRS. They think they do not need any rules to follow or to answer to anyone.
Sign me up!!! Im here in Utah where the NSA has their storage building, I would love to hold a party the day that building comes down....
You may add me as well.
I will also add my name to the list. Sue the NSA and impeach,.
I'm in. I could never afford this but I am happy you are doing it.
One tuning about suing the government and winning is that they will hand the bill off to the tax payers anyway
Count me in.
How far does this president need to push...well, for me its enough of this bully game by the president and the NSA snooping!!
Time to hold them accountable. Please add me to the lawsuit.
We need to stop these people befor the country we all know and love is gone forever
Big Thanks for Rand Paul for keeping his stand for our freedom. We need more people in public offices to step up and stand for what is right for our Country. Our freedom is what this country is about. Also watch out for our US currency, lets try and make sure we keep it as the world reserve or we are all going to lose bigtime.
Does having an Obam-phone count?
Don't include me in your lawsuit you grandstanding idiot.
it is about time someone sued those things!
Why not also name the creators of the patriot act that allowed this in the first place. To not add Bush and his administration is saying it was ok back then but not now. Publicity stunt for his presidential run in 2016.
Thank you for your patriotic diligence and strength!
Please add my name to this lawsuit!
Go get them my friend !!!!!
Finally somebody standing up against the tyranny of the far left thank you sir!!!!
Go Rand Paul Go
May God be your strength and guide in this grand effort. We are doomed if we do not turn this dictator out of the position he now holds. Thank you for stepping up to the plate. And I hope you hit a home run.
our 4th amendment has been trashed by this progressive liberal regime"
I support this 100%!!!
Yes and then lets sue him personally for my insurance being cancelled.
Consider yourselves served
I support Rand with this issue, I hope he wins.