A group of anonymous visitors to the website, represented by lawyers from the advocacy group Public Citizen, also sought to intervene in the case to protect their individual rights Monday.
In the brief, the government maintained its original warrant was lawful, but it was unaware DreamHost kept such detailed records on the website, including the IP addresses of millions of visitors.
“The government values and respects the First Amendment right of all Americans to participate in peaceful political protests and to read protected political expression online,” the brief said. “This warrant has nothing to do with that right. The warrant is focused on evidence of the planning, coordination and participation in a criminal act—that is, a premeditated riot. The First Amendment does not protect violent, criminal conduct such as this.”
Aghaian said the government’s contention it’s prior request was justified was “disconcerting.”
