WBAL TV

Maryland’s attorney general is currently investigating phone calls after constituents in the state’s 2nd Congressional District received recorded calls telling them the federal government was monitoring their phone line.

“We are sorry to inform you that this line is now under surveillance by the federal government. We attribute our authority to disregard the 4th Amendment to Bush’s ally in Congress, Dutch Ruppersberger. Dutch voted to reauthorize the Patriot Act and the (inaudible) bill. This call is paid for by Matthews for U.S. Congress,” the phone call stated.

Republican candidate Richard Matthews told WBAL TV 11 News that he paid for the calls, but Ruppersberger said the calls got his work on the Patriot Act all wrong.

He reported the phone calls to the state’s attorney general’s office.

A spokesperson for Matthews said the calls were intended to educate people about Rupperberger’s record. Matthews admitted some misinterpreted them.