WASHINGTON—A New York attorney has filed a $20 billion class-action lawsuit against Verizon Communications Inc., accusing the telecom giant of violating the law and privacy of customers by collaborating with the National Security Agency on the Bush administration’s warrantless domestic wiretapping program.
“Such conduct by the government is more troubling than the issuance of the general warrants by King George, prior to the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War, whereby the American patriots threw off the yoke of tyranny,” said Michael Pascazi, the attorney behind the suit.
The lawsuit alleges Verizon opened its key telecommunications facilities and databases to the NSA and/or other government agencies, thereby disclosing to the government the contents of its customers’ and other entities’ communications.
A Verizon representative could not immediately be reached for comment on the lawsuit.
Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) have asked executives of Verizon, AT&T Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp. for information regarding any participation in the NSA domestic spying program.
The Bush administration has insisted the program is legal. Meantime, Senate Democrats are pushing for a congressional investigation.
