13 Quotes by Lisa Graves

We applaud those lawmakers, from both sides of the aisle, who have demanded the truth from the government. The rule of law has been broken, and Congress and the public have a right to know. Effective and public oversight can be done without compromising state secrets. The administration must stop using national security as a blanket reason to keep their illegal activities hidden in the shadows.

We're seeing an administration that's engaging in a lot of legal hairsplitting to justify behavior that's not authorized by the law.

It gives a nod toward checks and balances without fixing the most fundamental flaws in the Patriot Act.

The Patriot Act was bad in 2001, and despite bipartisan calls for reform, it's still bad in 2005.

The Patriot Act debate is whether FISA adequately protects civil liberties. The point of FISA was to interpose a judge between the president and the citizen to make sure they wouldn't gather data on someone unilaterally.

The Patriot Act debate has come a long way, but there is still more that needs to be done to protect the rights of ordinary Americans. It is clear that there is building skepticism about the administration's approach to national security and civil liberties, and the ACLU and its bipartisan allies will continue to speak out in defense of all Americans' fundamental civil liberties and constitutional rights.

When lawmakers seek to rewrite our Fourth Amendment rights, they should at least have the gumption to do so in public. Americans have a reasonable expectation that their federal government will not gather records about their health, their wealth and the transactions of their daily life without probable cause of a crime and without a court order.

When presented with an honest representation, the American voter has serious concerns about the government's actions. Congress must listen and take steps to protect our Constitutional freedoms. The American people recognize that the rule of law must be followed by all - especially the president.

When a law has been broken, the proper response should be a full and independent investigation, not a cover-up. Congress must reject attempts to legitimize this illegal program, and instead insist that the truth be brought to light. No one, not even the president, should be above the law. The law should not be changed to protect politicians by making unlawful acts legal.