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May 17, 2006 2 a.m. - just hours before the EFF and AT&T whistleblower Mark Klein's first hearing on their lawsuit vs AT&T for helping the NSA run a massive internet spying operation
Klein's evidence was under seal. Only a few had seen it. The NYT & LA Times were too scared to publish.
I had gotten a hold of them. Just a freelancer. Wired under EIC Evan Hansen agreed to publish everything.
2 a.m., we published.
Room 641a was public.
AT&T's lawyers death stares were glorious.
RIP Mark Klein
Just to be clear, I didn't get them from Mark or from anyone subject to the court seal.
Also telling this story because it was a glorious moment made possible only by Mark's incredible bravery and deep moral sense that Big Brother needed to be fought.
He risked losing every penny and his house to AT&T, and he fought for years to get justice -- without ever trying to cash in on it.
I'm sad he's gone from this world.
@ryansingel It's always frustrated me that Snowden got the press, little of what he said was new, Klein is the one who actually exposed the infrastructure but in our post-9/11 haze few paid attention or cared.
@ryansingel that was such a day. Sitting by you in the court...
...I'm sorry to hear it. He always seemed like a mench.
@quinn He was, and I'm blessed to have you as a witness
@ryansingel He was such a staunch union guy 
@ryansingel wait, what i remember was the article going live while we were in the courtroom, and that I had no idea what was going on with the publishing, is that the wrong memory?
@quinn
That was back when the homepage went up at 2 a.m. And Klein's book says 2 a.m. so gonna run with that
@ryansingel something went up when we were in the courtroom. you were vibrating
@quinn My memory is *fuzzy* at best on that day
@ryansingel better than mine, man
@quinn yeah, looking at the book he quotes an AT&T lawyer complaining to the judge about docs published 8 hours ago. So guessing it was 2 a.m. and I was just still buzzing
. @ryansingel
I remember him as a union man and a good human being.
@ryansingel where was that?
@quinn His book Wiring Up The Big Brother Machine... And Fighting It
@ryansingel right, i have it around here somewhere. or it might be on a container ship coming over. memories are slowly filtering back in.
@ryansingel I do remember explaining to the woman from the ed board that NYT passing on that story in deference to the gov was why I'd never work for them. and she talked me into it, because they were looking to change things, she said.
@ryansingel it's quite the current rogues' gallery of pubs today that passed on that story at the behest of the government... except for wired.
Foreshadowing is real.
@quinn hundo percent!
@ryansingel Your recounting of that pivotal moment brings back memories of a time when courage and conviction led to the unveiling of truths that many sought to keep hidden. Mark Klein’s bravery in exposing the NSA’s mass surveillance program was a testament to the power of individual action against systemic overreach. His passing is a profound loss, but his legacy serves as a beacon for those who champion transparency and privacy. May he rest in peace
@enriquehristo
This is really eloquent and spot-on.
Thanks Enrique