Sen. Rand Paul Sues Obama Over NSA Surveillance

Sen. Rand Paul, a possible Republican presidential candidate, sued the Obama administration Wednesday over the National Security Agency's mass collection of millions of Americans' phone records. The Kentucky senator said he and the conservative activist group FreedomWorks filed the suit for themselves and on behalf of "everyone in America that has a phone."

The lawsuit argues that the bulk collection program that has been in existence since 2006 violates the Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches. The suit calls for an end to the program, which was revealed by former National Security Agency analyst Edward Snowden.The Obama administration maintains that the program, begun under President George W. Bush, is legal. Courts have largely sided with the government.

President Obama has called for reforms to the program in an effort to regain public trust. Others, like Paul, have called for the end of this kind of surveillance. Paul dodged a question about his presidential ambitions during a news conference Wednesday. The surveillance debate has exposed intraparty tensions for Republicans. The GOP is split on this issue between its leadership, which backs the program on security grounds, and libertarian-minded members who are more wary of government involvement in Americans' private lives.

The Republican National Committee last month approved a resolution to end the surveillance programs. While some Republicans downplayed its significance, the nonbinding vote was seen as a nod to Republicans like Paul.