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ACLU Calls on Gates to Investigate Sensory Deprivation Techniques Used Against Prisoners in U.S. Custody (12/18/2006)
NEW YORK - As Robert Gates was sworn in today, the American Civil Liberties Union called on the new Secretary of Defense to launch an investigation into cruel and inhuman methods used on prisoners in U.S. custody. Among the methods being denounced by the ACLU are sensory deprivation techniques recently shown to be used on Jose Padilla, including blacked-out goggles and headphones that block sound.

Government Backs Down in its Attempt to Seize "Secret" Document From ACLU (12/18/2006)
NEW YORK - One week after the American Civil Liberties Union moved to quash an unprecedented government grand jury subpoena demanding "any and all copies" of a previously "secret" memorandum, the government today backed down from the fight, asking a judge to withdraw the subpoena and saying that the document in question has been declassified.

ACLU Challenges Government Attempt to Seize "Secret" Document (12/13/2006)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union today announced that it has asked a federal judge to quash a grand jury subpoena demanding that it turn over to the FBI "any and all copies" of a December 2005 government document in its possession.

ACLU Presents "inSECURITY," the New Spoken-Word Album from Steve Connell & Sekou (tha misfit) (12/12/2006)
NEW YORK – The American Civil Liberties Union will host a CD release party tonight for “inSECURITY,” a new live CD written and performed by award-winning artists Steve Connell and Sekou (tha misfit). The event will be held at the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City and will feature a special performance by the artists.

ACLU Lauds Akaka-Sununu Real ID Fix Bill, Says Additional Privacy and Civil Liberties Safeguards Still Needed (12/11/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed the introduction of bipartisan legislation authored by Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and John Sununu (R-NH) that would add privacy and civil liberties safeguards to the Real ID Act. The "Identification Security Enhancement Act of 2006" would address several of the shortcomings of the controversial legislation adopted last year, including the establishment of a National ID.

In Torture Case Against Rumsfeld, Lawyers Cite “Widespread Pattern” of Abuse, Need for Accountability (12/08/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights First today argued before a federal court that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld should be held accountable for the torture and abuse of detainees in U.S. military custody.

ACLU's Top Lobbyist Urges Privacy Board To Act to Protect Civil Liberties (12/05/2006)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union’s top lobbyist, Caroline Fredrickson, appeared today at the first public hearing of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board to urge the board to conduct aggressive investigation and oversight over the administration’s dismantling of the civil liberties of all Americans.

Victim of CIA Kidnapping and Abuse Seeks Acknowledgement, Explanation and Apology: Remarks of Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director, ACLU (11/29/2006)
WASHINGTON - The outrages of the Bush Administration have been many, and the abuses of power are stacked high.

Khaled El-Masri, Victim of CIA Kidnapping and Abuse, Seeks Acknowledgement, Explanation and Apology (11/28/2006)
RICHMOND, VA - The American Civil Liberties Union today argued before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals that its lawsuit on behalf of Khaled El-Masri, a victim of the CIA’s policy of “extraordinary rendition,” should proceed. Earlier this year a federal district court in Alexandria, VA dismissed El-Masri’s lawsuit based on the government's argument that allowing it to proceed would jeopardize state secrets.

ACLU Lauds Justice Watchdog’s Investigation of NSA Program (11/27/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the Justice Department’s Inspector General for opening an investigation into the department’s role in the warrantless wiretapping program conducted by the National Security Agency. The White House agreed last week to give the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) the security clearances necessary to conduct the inquiry.

FBI Drops Another Patriot Act Demand But Keeps Gag on Internet Service Provider (11/22/2006)
NEW YORK - After more than two years in a legal battle with the American Civil Liberties Union, the FBI has abandoned a Patriot Act demand for the subscriber records of a small Internet Service Provider. The ACLU welcomed the decision but criticized the FBI for refusing to lift a gag order that prevents the provider from disclosing its identity.

Leading Constitutional Scholars, Civil Rights Organizations, Bar Associations and Reporters' Group Support ACLU Challenge to NSA Warrantless Wiretapping (11/21/2006)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union today announced the filing of five friend-of-the-court briefs in support of its successful challenge to the National Security Agency's illegal domestic spying program, which the government has appealed. The briefs were submitted on behalf leading constitutional scholars, civil rights organizations, legal experts, bar associations and a reporters' advocacy group.

ACLU Calls for Investigation In Response to New Details of Pentagon Spy Files (11/21/2006)
NEW YORK-The American Civil Liberties Union today released new Pentagon documents showing that counterterrorism resources were used to monitor American groups opposed to the war in Iraq and military recruitment. The ACLU is calling on Congress to investigate the widespread surveillance of political and religious groups by the Defense Department, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.

Pentagon Wrongfully Withholding Images of Detainee Abuse, ACLU Tells Court (11/20/2006)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union appeared in court today to challenge the government’s appeal of an order directing the Defense Department to release 21 photographs depicting abuse of detainees by U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Massachusetts Mayors and National Security Expert to Send Verizon and AT&T a "Wake Up" Call on Spying (11/16/2006)
BOSTON, MA - Mayors from four Massachusetts communities joined forces with noted national security expert James Bamford today for a press briefing at the Massachusetts Statehouse today to urge state officials to hold a public hearing on the role of telephone giants Verizon and AT&T in illegal government spying on Massachusetts residents.

Bush Wiretapping Program Violates Federal Laws and the Constitution, Says ACLU (11/14/2006)
DETROIT - The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Michigan today urged a federal appeals court to uphold a lower court ruling declaring the government’s warrantless National Security Agency wiretapping program illegal, calling the government’s assertion of unchecked spying powers "radical" and a threat to American democracy.

ACLU Urges Senate to Reject New Specter NSA Legislation, Bill Would Face Reconciliation with Flawed Wilson Measure (11/14/2006)
WASHINGTON - As Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) today introduced the "Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Oversight and Resource Enhancement Act of 2006," the American Civil Liberties Union renewed its call to Congress to reject any legislation that would authorize the illegal and warrantless surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency.

CIA Finally Acknowledges Existence of Presidential Order on Detention Facilities Abroad (11/14/2006)
NEW YORK -- In response to an ongoing lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the CIA has acknowledged the existence of two documents authorizing it to detain and interrogate terrorism suspects overseas. For more than two years, the CIA had refused to either deny or confirm the existence of the documents and had argued in court that doing so could jeopardize national security.