Supreme Court rejects Carter Page's effort to revive suit over FBI surveillance
The Supreme Court on Monday issued several rulings, including a rejection of a lawsuit involving FBI surveillance, a denial of a challenge to a New York gunmaker liability law, and a refusal to hear a free speech dispute involving an Indiana high school. The Court turned away an attempt by former Trump campaign aide Carter Page to revive a lawsuit against former FBI Director James Comey and other senior officials. The suit concerned FISA warrants used to electronically surveil Page during the 2016 presidential election. The Justice Department reached a $1.25 million settlement with Page in April, which covered only his claims against the U.S. Government under the PATRIOT Act, not his claims against individual officials or those involving FISA. A lower court had dismissed the suit in 2022, and the D.C. Circuit affirmed that dismissal in 2024, ruling that the statute of limitations barred the assertions. In a separate matter, the Court rejected a challenge by gunmakers, including Glock and Smith & Wesson, to a 2021 New York law. The state law creates a legal pathway to hold gunmakers accountable for harm caused by their weapons, specifically designed to circumvent a 2005 federal liability shield. Gunmakers argued the state statute exploits a loophole in federal law; however, New York Attorney General Letitia James argued the federal law already allows for liability in certain circumstances. Finally, the Court declined to hear a case regarding an Indiana high school’s refusal to allow a student-led anti-abortion group to hang flyers featuring the message “Defund Planned Parenthood.” A lower court had ruled in favor of the school, finding that the flyers could be perceived as reflecting the school’s endorsement. Justice Samuel Alito dissented, stating the Court should clarify the relationship between various government-speech decisions.
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CBS News · NBC News