Lawyer Investigated in Surveillance Program

New York, NY —

Today, a police department deputy commissioner who ran the NYPD's controversial intelligence operation will be deposed by lawyers for the New York Civil Liberties Union. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

David Cohen, who used to work for the Central Intelligence Agency will be asked by NYCLU lawyers to describe how the Department gathered information on protestors leading up to the Convention. The civil liberties group is suing on behalf of several individuals who contend they were unjustly arrested during the convention. The New York Times reported the NYPD had a pre-RNC covert intelligence gathering operation throughout the United States and overseas.

The NYPD has disputed the accuracy of the Times article. Because the Federal Government designated the convention as a National Special Security event, the secret service was given ultimate authority to protect the convention. The Secret Service referred questions about the NYPD RNC intelligence program back to the NYPD.