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Judge gives NSA three weeks to respond to lawsuit over spying during the 2002 Olympics

Posted at 4:29 PM, Nov 18, 2015
and last updated 2015-11-19 12:13:52-05

SALT LAKE CITY — A federal judge has given the National Security Agency three weeks to respond to a lawsuit accusing it of spying on everyone in the city during the 2002 Winter Olympics.

In an order issued Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Shelby granted a request by the federal government for additional time to respond to the lawsuit. The government said in a court filing it needed time to gather information on an event that took place 13 years ago.

The lawsuit, filed by former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, accuses the NSA and FBI of illegal mass surveillance during the 2002 Olympics. The plaintiffs include local political leaders and seeks a class-action status. In addition to the federal government, Anderson’s lawsuit also goes after former President George W. Bush and former Vice-President Dick Cheney.