Alberto Gonzales was on the stand yesterday in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee to defend the executive branch's claim that it has been given extra-legal powers to conduct surveillance without warrants. Some features of his testimony:
Senator Russ Feingold accuses him of perjury, because Gonzales responded to a question about such a warrantless surveillance program during his confirmation hearing with "that would be entirely hypothetical." Since the program was underway at that point, I guess it wasn't hypothetical was it, Mr. Gonzales?
Senator Arlen Specter notes that Congress was trying to make warrants easier to obtain at the time this program began, effectively saying, "we, the law-making body, will make it easier for you to legally listen in on suspected terrorists." In other words, Congress was affirming that Bush did not have the authority under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to pursue warrantless wiretaps.
Not only is Bush unashamed that his administration has clearly overstepped the authority granted it by Congress, but he has the audacity to say that he can act without legal authority. The last time a president so flagrantly violated the law, he was forced into resignation. Take note, Mr. President: in the land of checks and balances, the pendulum always swings back.
No comments:
Post a Comment