On Capitol Hill, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California has announced she favors granting legal immunity for telecommunications companies that allegedly shared millions of customers’ telephone and email messages and records with the government. The San Francisco Chronicle reports Feinstein could cast a pivotal vote when the Senate Judiciary Committee takes up the issue this week. In a statement, Feinstein said lawsuits filed against Verizon, AT&T and other telecoms are unfair because the companies are unable to defend themselves in court since the governments insist their activities be kept secret.