Chris Dodd's hold blocks Bush on FISA bill

Dodd opposes giving retroactive immunity to telephone companies for crimes they committed

Washington, DC - Chris Dodd says he is placing a hold on a bill reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that would give retroactive immunity to telephone companies that have illegally helped the government with the warrantless wiretap program.

Chris Dodd says he is placing a hold on a bill reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that would give retroactive immunity to telephone companies that have illegally helped the government with the warrantless wiretap program.

The move would effectively stall a measure that President Bush and Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell have claimed is essential to protect national security.

Allowing lawsuits to go forward, McConnell has said, could impoverish the companies and make them less able to aid intelligence surveillance efforts.

The bill is due to be voted out of the Senate Intelligence Committee Thursday afternoon, but Senator Dodd's move would block the measure from reaching a floor vote.

"The president has no right to secretly eavesdrop on the conversations and activities of law abiding American citizens and anyone who has aided and abetted him in these illegal activities should be held accountable," Dodd, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, said in a written statement.