Opinion ID: 2998236
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Surveillance under the FISA

Text: On August 28, 2003, Dumeisi filed a motion seeking disclosure of any materials related to surveillance under the FISA, 50 U.S.C. §§ 1801-1811, 1821-1829. The district court held a hearing on the motion, at which the government stated that both electronic and physical surveillance had 18 No. 04-1882 been conducted on Dumeisi under the FISA. The government submitted the materials relied upon by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (“FISC”), and after ex parte, in camera review, the district court concluded that the FISA surveillance was lawful and that disclosure of the materials would endanger national security. The court therefore denied Dumeisi’s motions for disclosure of the materials and for suppression of the fruits of all surveillance conducted under the FISA. Dumeisi appeals this decision, expressing concern that the facts presented to the FISC in support of the application for surveillance consisted solely of his First Amendment-protected activities as a journalist. We review the district court’s ruling on the propriety of the FISC’s orders de novo. Cf. In re Grand Jury Proceedings of the Special April 2002 Grand Jury, 347 F.3d 197, 204-05 (7th Cir. 2003). The FISC must make certain findings before authorizing electronic or physical surveillance. See 50 U.S.C. §§ 1805(a), 1824(a)(3)(A). For targets that are “United States persons,” such as Dumeisi, the FISC must find: (3) on the basis of the facts submitted by the applicant there is probable cause to believe that— (A) the target of the electronic surveillance is a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power: Provided, That no United States person may be considered a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power solely upon the basis of activities protected by the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States[.] 50 U.S.C. § 1805(a)(3). We have reviewed the classified materials relied upon by the FISC and conclude that the government provided probable cause that Dumeisi was an agent of a foreign power entirely independent of any of his journalistic activities. The requirements of §§ 1805(a)(3) and 1824(a)(3) were properly fulfilled, and the district court’s ruling must be affirmed. No. 04-1882 19