CNN
June 21, 2010

• A d v e r t i s e m e n t

A divided Supreme Court has ruled the government’s power to criminalize “material support” of a terrorist organization is constitutionally permissible.

The 6-3 ruling preserves a key provision of the 2001 Patriot Act, amid claims it threatens the free-speech rights of Americans who would assist non-violent activities of certain militant and terror groups.

At issue was whether the federal law allows prosecution of those with knowledge of “any service, training, expert advice or assistance” to a foreign terrorist organization, as designated by the U.S. government.