Judges belatedly briefed on (illegal) domestic spying

[ProSense]

Judges belatedly briefed on domestic spying
Meeting held for judges bypassed when U.S. ordered warrantless wiretaps

The Associated Press
Updated: 10:08 p.m. ET Jan. 9, 2006


snip...

He argued that Bush under a congressional resolution passed after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack, had the authority to order such electronic surveillance as part of his responsibility as commander-in-chief to protect the nation.

But the former government officials and constitutional law experts said Congress did not authorize domestic spying as part of the 2001 resolution. Lawmakers, they wrote, also “indisputably” have the authority to regulate electronic surveillance inside the United States.

The 13 experts said it is “beyond dispute that, in (our) democracy, the president cannot simply violate criminal laws behind closed doors because he deems them obsolete or impracticable.”

Legal analysts at the Congressional Research Service last week raised similar questions, and lawmakers have called for hearings on the NSA program.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10781204/from/RSS/