There really is a Santa Claus: Judge rejects John Ashcroft immunity claim

buttmunch · September 28th, 2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft could be called to testify in a lawsuit that claims a student was wrongly imprisoned in a computer terrorism case, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge rejected Ashcroft's argument to toss out the lawsuit because he was entitled to absolute immunity since his position at the Department of Justice was prosecutorial.

Abdullah al-Kidd, who played football for the University of Idaho, claimed government wrongfully arrested him in the case against a fellow student, Sami Omar Al-Hussayen, in 2003.

They both worked for the Islamic Assembly of North America, a Michigan-based charitable organization that federal investigators said funneled money to activities supporting terrorism and published material advocating suicide attacks on the United States.

A jury acquitted Al-Hussayen of using his computer skills to foster terrorism and of three immigration violations after an eight-week federal trial. But Al-Hussayen — who was only months from finishing his doctorate study at the University of Idaho — was eventually deported to Saudi Arabia.

Al-Kidd was never called to testify, but he spent two weeks in jail as a material witness and was later released to the custody of his wife with strict limitations on where he could travel.

His lawsuit claimed Ashcroft was personally liable for violating his rights because after the terrorist attacks Ashcroft "created a national policy to improperly seek material witness warrants, oversaw the execution of such warrants, and failed to correct the constitutional violations of conducting such actions," according court documents. Al-Kidd said the investigation and detainment not only caused him to lose a scholarship to study in Saudi Arabia, but that it cost him employment opportunities.

The ruling also means U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and others in the Department of Homeland Security could be called to testify in the lawsuit.

"We are literally reviewing it at this minute and no, we have not made any decisions at this time," Charles Miller, spokesman for the Justice Department's civil division, said of the ruling.

Al-Kidd's attorney, Lee Gelernt with the ACLU's national headquarters in New York, called the ruling a "vindication" for al-Kidd.

"It will hopefully deter the government from using the material witness statute in the future in the way they did after Sept. 11," Gelernt said.

Al-Kidd is asking the judge to declare that the federal government's actions were unconstitutional, to order the FBI and other agencies to expunge any records relating to the unlawful detention of al-Kidd and others, and for unspecified damages.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060928/...E0BHNlYwN0bWE-

HAHAHAHA! Suck on that, you crazy fuck! maybe someone will do a congo-line naked past him when he heads into court. That should scare that foot-washing Baptist right into the next world.

Grimmlok · September 28th, 2006, 03:51 PM

Oh pfft, Bush will just issue a signing statement and whisk ashcroft out from under any prosecution, or invoke national security or some other bullshit.

buttmunch · September 28th, 2006, 03:53 PM

Bite your tongue!!!................................

Grimmlok · September 28th, 2006, 04:04 PM

I can't, i did that long ago when Bush first got into office and it never grew back.

buttmunch · September 28th, 2006, 04:20 PM

Must make blow jobs a bitch.

Grimmlok · September 28th, 2006, 04:32 PM

Pfft no. No tongue = more room!

buttmunch · September 28th, 2006, 04:36 PM

But isn't the tongue action the fun bit? Or have I been going at this wrong all along?

Grimmlok · September 28th, 2006, 04:37 PM

It's all about the deep throat, baby. The sooner you divorce yourself from your gag reflex, the happier mr. butt will be.

buttmunch · September 28th, 2006, 04:44 PM

Oh dear. I've been doing it all wrong. I think I'll have a banana and practice a bit.

Sojiita · September 28th, 2006, 05:10 PM

My one and only 'party trick' ever was lubing up a banana and (with no hands) sliding it all the way into my mouth and down the throat so I could close my mouth with banana inside-and then slide it back up and out my mouth with no hands! lol. I have lost the ability to perform this stunt unfortunately.

moomies · September 28th, 2006, 05:14 PM

I'm learning all sorts of unexpected things in a thread about something else...

ohmygoodness · September 28th, 2006, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sojiita

My one and only 'party trick' ever was lubing up a banana and (with no hands) sliding it all the way into my mouth and down the throat so I could close my mouth with banana inside-and then slide it back up and out my mouth with no hands! lol. I have lost the ability to perform this stunt unfortunately.

Oh wow. That must have made you a popular guy!

buttmunch · September 29th, 2006, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sojiita
My one and only 'party trick' ever was lubing up a banana and (with no hands) sliding it all the way into my mouth and down the throat so I could close my mouth with banana inside-and then slide it back up and out my mouth with no hands! lol. I have lost the ability to perform this stunt unfortunately.

Oh wow. That must have made you a popular guy!

But now that the word is out about his lost abilities, the dating pool has shrunk.