NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–September 23, 2009. The Obama administration today announced it will put in place new voluntary guidelines for the executive branch’s use of the state secrets privilege. In recent years, the executive branch under Presidents Bush and Obama has asserted the state secrets claim to block lawsuits and justify withholding information from the public about the extraordinary rendition program, illegal wiretapping, torture and other breaches of U.S. and international law. Legislation has also been introduced in both the House and Senate to narrow the state secrets privilege. The American Civil Liberties Union is urging Congress to pass those bills to ensure an outside check on the executive branch.
