‘Secret law is a threat to democracy,’ Dems warn in letter to President Obama

Four House Democrats have teamed up with privacy advocates to protest a “secret law” that they say authorizes spying on some Americans' e-mails and online messages.

The lawmakers, organizations and former administration officials told the White House in a recent letter that the Obama Administration should declassify “all current and future legal opinions” or legal interpretations that permit spying under a controversial executive order. They also urged President Barack Obama to ban “disproportionate or unnecessary” collection of people’s messages, Internet chats and other communications. “Secret law is a threat to democracy,” Reps. John Conyers (D-MI), Alan Grayson (D-FL), Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) wrote in a letter joined by groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, Electronic Frontier Foundation and Access. “We will continue to work to build support for further privacy protections for all users in surveillance activities conducted under [Executive Order] 12333,” they added, referring to a contested order from the Reagan administration amended by former President George W. Bush. The letter was also sent to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, a small government watchdog panel.