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# Rand Paul Sues Obama Over NSA Surveillance

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/dYiqzVJj.m3u8" -->
## Video: Rand Paul Sues Obama Over NSA Surveillance

[Watch (HLS stream): Rand Paul Sues Obama Over NSA Surveillance](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/dYiqzVJj.m3u8) (1:45)

![Rand Paul Sues Obama Over NSA Surveillance](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/dYiqzVJj/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2014-02-13. While Paul says the NSA is in direct violation of the Fourth Amendment and he’s filed the class action suit on behalf of Americans, many wonder if the suit is a way for the Kentucky congressman to bolster his profile ahead of the 2016 elections._


---

Jul 27, 2023 4:13 PM UTC

---

## More From This Series

[All Videos](https://time.com/video/)

[Wikimedia Is Suing To Shield Users From NSA Surveillance](/video/xabyuF3u/)

### Wikimedia Is Suing To Shield Users From NSA Surveillance

[President Obama Outlines Changes To NSA Surveillance](/video/C7iMgATt/)

### President Obama Outlines Changes To NSA Surveillance

[Obama: The NSA Saves Lives](/video/0UQkUrdF/)

### Obama: The NSA Saves Lives

---


## Transcript

>> Rand Paul versus the NSA. The congressman from Kentucky has filed a class action lawsuit against President Barack Obama and others claiming the metadata collection by the NSA is in direct violation of the fourth amendment.

>> Fourth Amendment says that the warrant should be specific to the individual. You're telling me a single warrant can apply to everybody has an AT & T phone call, that sounds like it does go against what our founding fathers intended.

>> The lawsuit names four people as defendants, President Obama, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, NSA Director Keith Alexander and FBI Director James Comey Jr. In response to the lawsuit, the Department of Justice issued this statement, " We remain confident that the program is legal as at least 15 judges have previously found ." One of those judges US District Judge William Pauley called NSA surveillance a vital tool in December when he ruled against the ACLU in a lawsuit against the agency. But Paul and his legal team say this suit will be different in part because it's a class action suit they say will include of millions of angry Americans.

>> On behalf of all Americans, the other cases thus far on behalf of individual [ unk ] that does not provide relief for every American who's using a telephone, this case will.

>> With so much talk of a presidential run for Paul on 2016, political notes this case is quite convenient should the Kentucky congressman decide to run. He initially directed potential class action signatories to websites including Randpack. com. The Paul campaign arm will still be able to access those e- mail lists an adviser to the senator confirmed. But as you might have imagined, Paul says this is all about protecting the constitution. Thanks for watching, I'm Cliff Judy.

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