Illegal Wiretapping Hearings

[haus]

On Monday, at 9:30AM EST, C-SPAN2 will continue the coverage of the Senate Judicuary Cmte.'s hearings on Domestic Surveilance. AG Alberto Gonzales will be on the stand again. To refresh our memories, Gonzales testified during his confirmation hearings a year ago to advise Congress should he obtain knowlege that such a domestic surveilance program existed:

Judge Gonzales: Senator, this President is not- it's not the policy or the agenda of this President to authorize actions that would be in contravention of our criminal statutes.

Senator Feingold: Finally, will you commit to notify Congress if the President makes this type of decision and not wait 2 years until a memo is leaked about it?

Judge Gonzales: I will commit to advise the Congress as soon as I reasonably can, yes, Sir.

It should be an interesting show. Sources (videos/transcripts) at http://www.senatedemocrats.net/node/328 . Cheers to Trevor Miller for compiling the info.

[FDRfollower]

The headline in the newspapers Should read "Gonzales Takes The Fifth"

[BenDover]

I saw part of a press conference with Scott McClellan going at it with Helen Thomas over the legitimacy of these wiretaps. McClellan refused to answer her questions and just kept responding with the same dogmatic justifications we're heard in the past. I don't understand why the administration insists that these warrantless wiretaps are "critical to fighting the war on terror". They can do the wiretaps on an as-needed and immediate basis through the provisions of FISA and still have 72 hours to obtain a retroactive warrant through the FISA court. Why isn't this amenable to them? Why would they feel the need to circumvent the law in the name of necessity when, in reality, such actions aren't necessary at all?

I absolutely agree that we need to know what the terrorists are up to and, under the law, I am in favor of this type of action....but ONLY under the law. It is very disturbing to see the Bush administration take the self-righteous and uncompromising stance they have assumed on this issue.