White House sues Sprint for overcharging on compliance with federal phone taps

xxdr zombiexx for The First and The Fourth

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday March 03, 2014 · 4:18 PM PST

2014/03/03 · 16:18

The Obama administration filed a suit in U.S. District Court in San Francisco on Monday, alleging that Sprint overcharged the government $21 million for expenses it incurred while complying with court-ordered wiretaps and other surveillance help.

$21 million isn't much for a big, ol' massive government like ours.

Chicken feed.

Republicans have probably blown far more than that on investigating (3 syllables, starts with a "B")

In the case, San Francisco U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag alleged that Sprint “knowingly submitted false claims” to the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Marshals Service and other law enforcement agencies from January 1, 2007 to July 31, 2010, inflating costs by about 58 percent.
The lawsuit said Sprint violated the anti-fraud law known as the False Claims Act and went against the federal regulations that prohibit carriers from using the reimbursements for wiretap cooperation to pay for updates to their equipment, facilities and services.

- - -

Sprint, however, said its invoices to the federal agencies fully complied with the law that requires the government to reimburse reasonable costs incurred in assisting law enforcement agencies with electronic surveillance.

So after they are done forking our information over to the government, they turn around and send the government a big ol' bill.

Then, like the rest of us, the government disputes the heinous bill they have just gotten.

Then everybody goes to court.

Sort of warmed my heart in a darkly humorous manner.

Maybe they'll get Judge Judy.

This content was created by a Daily Kos Community member.

Make YOUR voice heard!

Comments are closed on this story.