Specter Wants A.G.'s Testimony on Spying

[sabra]

http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2006/01/08/ap/headlines/d8f0krbo5.txt

Specter Wants A.G.'s Testimony on Spying


WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee said Sunday he has asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to testify during open hearings on the legality of the Bush administration's domestic spying program.

Hearings are planned for early February into the National Security Agency program that President Bush approved in 2002, said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa. They will examine whether the congressional resolution authorizing the president to use force against Iraq allowed eavesdropping without a court order, as the administration contends, he said.

...

The attorney general was White House counsel when Bush initiated the program, a role that could raise issues of attorney-client privilege in seeking his testimony. A message left with the Justice Department on Sunday was not immediately returned.

Asked on CBS's "Face the Nation" if Gonzales had agreed to appear, Specter said, "Well, I didn't ask him if he had agreed. I told him we were holding the hearings and he didn't object. I don't think he has a whole lot of choice on testifying."

[0007]

1. Can Gonzales gives executive privilege as a reason for not

testifying?

[babylonsister]

2. Now watch while Gonzales weasels out of showing up. nt

[Vidar]

3. Good for Specter.

[salin]

7. unless it is a 'show' intended to ease the mind

of the public. With Senator Spector - hard to tell whether Mr "Outraged", or Mr "Play along to Get along" is going to show up.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

4. Oh he'll testify

But not under oath.

[bettyellen]

5. how about Ashcroft too? I want to hear how he refused to sign off on this

from his hospital bed and how he overlooked his underling okaying it a month later.

[babylonsister]

8. Very good point. I wouldn't mind hearing what Ashcroft has

to say either.:thumbsup:

[texpatriot2004]

6. Thank you Specter nm