zimv20
Jan 17, 2007, 06:41 PM
cnn (http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/17/domestic.spying/index.html)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush administration has agreed to allow a federal court that specializes in wiretap requests to oversee its non-warrant electronic surveillance program, the Justice Department said Wednesday.
In a letter to Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales wrote that a judge on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has agreed to authorize the program and preserve "the speed and agility necessary" to battle terrorism.
The Bush administration has asserted for more than a year that it had the authority to monitor U.S. residents' international communications without a judge's approval, as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act requires. But many lawmakers and legal observers have questioned that claim and argued that President Bush violated that 1978 law by authorizing the eavesdropping.
In the letter, Gonzales maintained that the program to monitor communications without a court order is legal. However, he said that FISA court orders issued on January 10 mean Bush won't need to reauthorize the controversial surveillance effort. (Read Gonzales' letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee)
"The president is committed to using all lawful tools to protect our nation from the terrorist threat, including making maximum use of the authorities provided by FISA and taking full advantage of developments in the law," Gonzales wrote.
'Welcome news, if long overdue'
The announcement comes a day before Gonzales is scheduled to appear before Leahy's committee. Leahy said he welcomed the administration's decision.
"As I pointed out for sometime, and as other senators on both sides of the aisle pointed out, that was at the very best of doubtful legality," Leahy said. He said surveillance was needed to prevent terrorist attacks, "But we can and we should do it in ways that protect the basic rights of all Americans."
And Democratic Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, called the decision "welcome news, if long overdue."
"It proves that this surveillance has always been possible under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and that there was never a good reason to evade the law," Reyes said in a written statement.
Bush had periodically reauthorized the program since its inception. That authorization will no longer be necessary, "Because the new rules will serve as guideposts," White House spokesman Tony Snow said.
(more)
good news? seemingly, but i no longer trust this administration w/ anything at all. somehow, somewhere, there's something even ickier going on.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush administration has agreed to allow a federal court that specializes in wiretap requests to oversee its non-warrant electronic surveillance program, the Justice Department said Wednesday.
In a letter to Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales wrote that a judge on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has agreed to authorize the program and preserve "the speed and agility necessary" to battle terrorism.
The Bush administration has asserted for more than a year that it had the authority to monitor U.S. residents' international communications without a judge's approval, as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act requires. But many lawmakers and legal observers have questioned that claim and argued that President Bush violated that 1978 law by authorizing the eavesdropping.
In the letter, Gonzales maintained that the program to monitor communications without a court order is legal. However, he said that FISA court orders issued on January 10 mean Bush won't need to reauthorize the controversial surveillance effort. (Read Gonzales' letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee)
"The president is committed to using all lawful tools to protect our nation from the terrorist threat, including making maximum use of the authorities provided by FISA and taking full advantage of developments in the law," Gonzales wrote.
'Welcome news, if long overdue'
The announcement comes a day before Gonzales is scheduled to appear before Leahy's committee. Leahy said he welcomed the administration's decision.
"As I pointed out for sometime, and as other senators on both sides of the aisle pointed out, that was at the very best of doubtful legality," Leahy said. He said surveillance was needed to prevent terrorist attacks, "But we can and we should do it in ways that protect the basic rights of all Americans."
And Democratic Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, called the decision "welcome news, if long overdue."
"It proves that this surveillance has always been possible under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and that there was never a good reason to evade the law," Reyes said in a written statement.
Bush had periodically reauthorized the program since its inception. That authorization will no longer be necessary, "Because the new rules will serve as guideposts," White House spokesman Tony Snow said.
(more)
good news? seemingly, but i no longer trust this administration w/ anything at all. somehow, somewhere, there's something even ickier going on.
