A federal judge has ruled two provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act allowing secret wiretapping and unsubstantiated searches are unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken said the PATRIOT Act’s leeway for surveillance and searches of U.S. citizens violates Fourth Amendment requirements for probable cause. The ruling came on a challenge sought by Portland attorney Brandon Mayfield. Mayfield has sued the U.S. government for falsely accusing of him involvement in the Madrid train bombings of 2004. Mayfield settled the case but retained the right to challenge the PATRIOT Act under the terms of his deal.