Nelson wrote to the U.S. Attorney with his suspicions (before the news broke of the NSA program) and was provided reassurances that the FBI and Justice Department respect attorney-client relationships. But Nelson was not reassured and filed an FOIA request with the NSA. If you read what he, his colleague and his wife observed, you'll understand why. The response he got back:

"The fact of the existence or nonexistence of responsive records is a currently and properly classified matter."

On another topic, there's the role of Cheney legal counsel (since promoted to Libby's position as chief of staff) David Addington.

White House lawyers, in particular, Vice President Cheney's counsel David Addington (who is now Cheney's chief of staff), pressed Mueller to use information from the NSA program in court cases, without disclosing the origin of the information, and told Mueller to be prepared to drop prosecutions if judges demanded to know the sourcing, according to several government officials. Mueller, backed by Comey, resisted the administration's efforts.

There's lot's more to the article and I've just skimmed the surface. I'll update in a while with more of my thoughts and reactions around the blogoshphere. [Hat tip to Patriot Daily for spotting the article.]

Update: Another warrantless search of a law office -- that of Don Rehkoph who represented Guantanamo translator al-Halabi.

Attorneys for spy suspect Senior Airman Ahmad Al Halabi accused government investigators of violating his attorney-client privilege by taking his legal files for "safe keeping," raiding a defense counsel office, and barging in on his meeting with a defense attorney without a warrant.

Espionage charges were later dropped against al-Halabi who pleaded guilty to minor charges in exchange for time served.