Cuccinelli statement on judge's ruling against NSA surveillance program

Today, a federal judge ruled that the National Security Agency program that collects information on nearly all telephone calls made to, from, or within the United States is likely unconstitutional. The injunction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia was stayed pending an appeal.

Statement from Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli on the decision today:

"While we all want to protect the United States from terrorist acts, putting every citizen and every state and local government under federal surveillance to do that runs counter to the very foundational principles of this country. How can a nation be truly free with the federal government looking over everyone's shoulder, especially when the vast majority of citizens are not suspected of any crime?
"As Virginia's top legal officer, I am also stunned that the federal government claims the authority to monitor the phone activity of state governments. I am encouraged that a federal judge has seen fit to enjoin the federal government from its indiscriminate surveillance program."