Utah People's Post

The Latest News from the Beehive State

Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Log in
  • National News
    • Female Caseworker Killed & Doctor Shot in Philadelphia
  • State News
    • Car Chase Leads to Drug Arrest
  • Tech & Science
  • Health
    • How to Prepare For Ticks Season
    • Magical Weight Loss Bean Scam
  • Sports
  • Business
You are here: Home / National News / Ends Don’t Justify the Means for FBI in Christmas Bomber Case

Ends Don’t Justify the Means for FBI in Christmas Bomber Case

July 7, 2016 Posted by Emma Carter

FBI agentOn Wednesday, Mohamed Mohamud’s attorneys argued in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that warrantless taping of the defendant deprived him of a fair trial and infringed his constitutional rights. Mahmud was convicted for trying to set off a car bomb at Portland’s holiday tree-lighting ceremony in 2010.

He was arrested by the FBI before carrying out his plan and sentenced to 30 years in federal prison and lifetime surveillance.

But the defense attorneys claim that this was a clear case of government overreach since the FBI knew about the Muslim man’s intentions from illegal wiretaps done by the National Security Agency.

It is the first time an federal appeals court reviews a criminal conviction due to claims that the surveillance was warrantless under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Amendments Act. Attorney Patrick Toomey, who filed an amicus brief in the case, urged the court to rule the surveillance unconstitutional.

Toomey argued that when federal agents amassed a monster database of Mohamud’s and other Americans’ private communications, they deprived them of their Fourth Amendment rights.

Toomey also explained that the FBI sifts through the database when it investigates specific Americans, which is exactly what happened with Mohamud.

Mohamud, 25, was born in Somalia but he became U.S. citizen through naturalization. He was 19 years old when he plotted the attack, and was convicted in 2013. He is still incarcerated and was not present at this Wednesday’s hearing.

One judge, however, couldn’t grasp the paradox of deeming illegal the act of looking at something that was “procured” legally. In NSA and other federal agencies’ opinion, mass surveillance is necessary to counter terrorist acts done by foreigners on U.S. soil.

However, in Mohamud is not about a foreign terrorist but a domestic one. So, defense attorneys challenged in court the “backdoor searchers” done by federal investigators when it comes to U.S. citizens.

Toomey added that federal agents do not shy away from looking at Americans’ texts, phone calls, and emails during investigations. He believes that the government should at least try to obtain a warrant from a judge before accessing the NSA database in each particular case.

“This would not represent a radical change.”

the lawyer said.

During the hearing, Toomey also noted that Mohamud’s trial was tainted by constitutional errors such as allowing federal agents to testify without disclosing their identities, which made background checks of the said agents and witnesses impossible.

Image Source: Flickr

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email

Filed Under: National News Tagged With: FBI, Fourth Amendment, illegal wiretapping, Mohamed Mohamud, NSA, Portland Christmas bomber

mm

About Emma Carter

Emma is a Europe based writer who never imagined that one day she would be covering news from all around the world. She holds a bachelor’s degree in linguistic studies and her love for words drove her to journalism. Emma is dedicated to social issues and believes that writing about justice and equality is a good start in leaving her footprint behind.

Woman working out at the gym

Just 23% of Americans Are Working Out Enough in Their Spare Time

June 29, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Poliovirus Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients New Hope (Study)

June 29, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

United Airlines airplane

Passenger Mysteriously Dies on United Airlines flight Bound for Boston

June 28, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Breakfast sandwich

Here Are Some Foods No Nutritionist Would Ever Eat

June 27, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Poppy flower

UN Warns of Surge in Opium-based Drugs and Cocaine Supply

June 27, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

U.S.-Canada border

French Jogger Detained 2 Weeks for Accidentally Crossing Border

June 26, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Plus size model

Normalizing Plus Size Could Fuel Obesity Crisis (Study)

June 25, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Giant manta ray

Unique Manta Ray Nursery Spotted off Texas Coast

June 23, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

The rainbow flag

WHO Scraps Transgenderism from List of Mental Illnesses

June 22, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

456 People Dead at U.K. Hospital after Taking too Many Painkillers

June 21, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Kenyan girls dancing

Kenyans Facing Poor Nutrition as Supermarket Shopping Is on the Rise

June 20, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Pages

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • Staff
  • Terms and Conditions

Recent Posts

  • Just 23% of Americans Are Working Out Enough in Their Spare Time
  • Poliovirus Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients New Hope (Study)
  • Passenger Mysteriously Dies on United Airlines flight Bound for Boston
  • Here Are Some Foods No Nutritionist Would Ever Eat
  • UN Warns of Surge in Opium-based Drugs and Cocaine Supply
  • French Jogger Detained 2 Weeks for Accidentally Crossing Border
  • Normalizing Plus Size Could Fuel Obesity Crisis (Study)

Related Articles

  • U.S.-Canada border

    French Jogger Detained 2 Weeks for Accidentally Crossing Border

    Jun 26, 2018
  • Billboard on Texas Interstate Kindly Asking Liberals to Leave

    Jun 20, 2018
  • U.S. Border Patrol Agents surveying border

    Border Patrol Busts 51K People Trying to illegally Cross Border

    Jun 7, 2018
  • Alabama 4-Year-Old Is Feeding the Homeless in a Superhero Cape

    May 22, 2018
  • Electronic cigarette in man's hand

    Electronic Cigarette Blows Up in Florida Man’s Face, Killing Him

    May 17, 2018
  • CIA Hacking Tool Leaker Faces Child Porn Charges

    May 16, 2018
  • First Lady Melania Trump

    First Lady Melania Trump Recovering from Serious Surgery

    May 15, 2018
  • Mormon Temple in Utah

    Mormons Break 105-year Alliance with the Boy Scouts

    May 10, 2018
  • House Speaker Paul Ryan

    Paul Ryan Denies Dismissing House Chaplain over Politics

    May 4, 2018
  • Baby feet

    Iowa’s Fetal-Heartbeat Bill About to Ban Nearly All Abortions

    May 3, 2018

Categories

  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • National News
  • Nature
  • Provo
  • Salt Lake News
  • Science
  • Sports
  • State News
  • Tech & Science
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • West Jordan
  • West Valley City
  • World

Copyright © 2022 utahpeoplespost.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Site Map · Contact