WASHINGTON— In a lawsuit filed by People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF), a federal judge ruled last night that the National Security Agency is not required to answer a Freedom of Information Act request about its domestic spying program.

PFAWF Legal Director Elliot Mincberg announced that the organization is exploring options for an appeal. His statement follows:

“No President is above the law, and no presidential administration should grow so powerful that it answers to no authority but its own. Americans deserve to know as much as possible about how the government collects private information about its own citizens through a program that we and many others believe is illegal.

“Our lawsuit does not jeopardize national security, nor seek to expose classified documents. Our lawsuit seeks to discover the results of actions by the government which one court has already found are illegal. We are deeply disappointed by the ruling, and are exploring options for an appeal.

“We all want to prevent acts of terrorism, but we must not give up our most fundamental liberties in the process, and the President must act within the boundaries of the law.”

PFAW and PFAWF will also expand their push for congressional oversight of the Bush administration’s illegal domestic spying program when the new Congress convenes in January.