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Sen. Judiciary Authorizes Domestic Surveillance Program Subpoenas
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ShareJune 21, 2007 2:26 PM
ABC News' Theresa Cook and Jason Ryan Report: The Senate Judiciary Committee has authorized its chairman to issue subpoenas related to the panel's inquiry into the National Security Agency's domestic surveillance program.
The 13-3 vote will allow Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., to issue subpoenas at a later date to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and the Custodian of Records for the Executive Office of the President.
The committee is seeking documents relating to the authorization and legal basis for the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretapping program, which, until January 2007, operated outside of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. FISA requires requires applications be presented to judges before warrants are requested.
"This Committee has sought information about the authorization of and legal justification for this program time and again – in letters, at hearings, and in written questions," Chairman Leahy said in a statement. "Yet this Administration has rebuffed all requests."
Noting that he and Sen. Specter have already requested documents from the Justice Department, but not received them, Leahy's statement continued, "This stonewalling is unacceptable and it must end. If the Administration will not carry out its responsibility to provide information to this Committee without a subpoena, we will issue one."
Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse issued a statement on the subpoena authorization, saying, “It is vital to protect sensitive intelligence sources and methods associated with this kind of national security information, particularly when it relates to intelligence programs that are the subject of oversight by the Intelligence Committees.”
“We must also give appropriate weight to the confidentiality of internal Executive Branch deliberations,” the statement continued.
Roehrkasse also cited “numerous briefings to appropriate members of Congress” as evidence that the department has already explained the terrorist surveillance program to lawmakers.
Republican Senators Specter, Orrin Hatch of Utah and Charles Grassley of Iowa joined committee Democrats to authorize the move.
June 21, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (3)
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What is happening in our government when nothing needs to be adhered to! I believe in Justice but whether or not Congress has indifferances those indifferances site furhter wrongs committed through states as well..we as a people of our government also end up being mistreated and documented do to those in authority to listen instead of assuming wrong..Sen. Specter..I admire the way youdelve into matters that afect how we as a people believe and note feel which is called a "gut feeling", for a woman if we show emotion, its taken lightly down below..Apache
Posted by: Apachecheynne | Jun 22, 2007 3:01:44 PM
Keep up the subpoenas...subpoena everybody. If they defy the subpoena, arrest them for contempt. Its time to play hardball with these criminals.
Posted by: bob crawford | Jun 23, 2007 1:22:51 AM
YES! I agree keep up the suponeas! Keep Gitmo open for these criminals.
Posted by: sandra l | Jun 23, 2007 2:29:29 PM
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