A federal judge Thursday tossed a lawsuit filed by a group of Utahns who allege the government used “blanket” warrantless surveillance of Salt Lake-area residents and visitors during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
The request for dismissal came from Rocky Anderson — who is the lawyer for the six plaintiffs and was the mayor in Salt Lake City during the Games — who wrote in court papers that it won’t be possible for them to get to the truth of whether the National Security Agency spied on Americans and others. He says government attorneys have repeatedly refused to disclose information, citing a court rule that allows them to keep private documents and evidence if it might detail sensitive information that threatens national security.