Holder cites state secrets in wiretap case

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The Obama administration says it will continue its predecessor's policy of using state secrets authority to block disclosures about warrantless eavesdropping.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Friday the White House would invoke the privilege to keep classified information from being disclosed in a lawsuit brought by civil libertarians challenging the Bush administration's establishment of an anti-terrorism warrantless wiretapping program, CNN reported.

Holder reportedly stated the Obama administration has instituted a new process to ensure the state secrets privilege is used only when necessary. But, he added, he had determined there was no way for the California case now before U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker to go forward without "disclosure of highly sensitive, classified information that would irrevocably harm the national security of this country."

Electronic Frontier Foundation attorney Kevin Bankson told CNN Holder's move represented a continuation of Bush's policies and stands in sharp contrast to the promises of greater government transparency and accountability Obama made during his presidential campaign.

"It turns out that 'change we can believe in' hasn't really resulted in any change at all when it comes to government secrecy," he told the broadcaster.