USA PATRIOT Act Gag Order

Stemming from the lawsuit filed in a Connecticut court, which we discussed last week, the ACLU has requested that a gag order be lifted on a client who has resisted efforts by the FBI to provide library records under a national security letter.^[1] Federal prosecutors, however, fear that if the client in question was able to discuss the case openly, terror investigations would be hampered.^[2] According to the ACLU, however, the client wants to participate in a debate over the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act by arguing that the government used the controversial provision inappropriately.^[3] Prosecutors have countered that the gag order prevents the release of the identity of the client, who is apparently a male, but not his ability to speak about the Act.^[4]

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[1] John Christoffersen, ACLU Wants Gag Order Lifted in Patriot Act Case, Associated Press, Aug. 31, 2005, available here.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.