WASHINGTON, March 12 (UPI) -- U.S. House of Representatives Democratic leaders say they back some relief for companies sued for aiding the Bush administration's warrantless spying program.
The House could vote Thursday on the proposal that would allow companies to defend themselves in secret in front of a judge, The Washington Post reported.
The support for some relief reaffirms the House leadership's opposition to blanket legal immunity sought by the administration for telephone companies that turned over data to federal intelligence gatherers.
The "ex parte" review before a judge without plaintiffs present is an attempt to counter the administration's stance that companies cannot respond to lawsuits without disclosing classified information, the Post said. Nearly 40 civil suits against the companies were filed in a federal court in San Francisco.
The language is included in a House bill that would modernize the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. U.S. President George Bush and his advisers maintain the legislation must be updated to account for technology advances and allow intelligence agents to eavesdrop on communications involving foreign targets.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the bill is "dead on arrival" for several reasons, including its lack of immunity contained in the administration-backed Senate bill.
