Dodd to Block Telecom Immunity

Dem presidential hopeful Chris Dodd said yesterday he will place a “hold” on a bill that would grant retroactive immunity to telecom companies who handed over phone records to the feds without warrants. The White House and the Senate Intelligence Committee had made a deal to clear carriers Wednesday, but Dodd vows to block its coming to a vote, Election Central reports.

Dodd’s campaign spokesman accused the telecoms of being “complicit in the Bush administration’s assault on the United States Constitution.” Obama's campaign also came out against the retroactive immunity bill yesterday. If Dodd blocks the bill, senators will have to go on record in favor of the legislation to override him to bring it to the floor, according to one blog. (More telecom stories.)