Senator Feingold questions Holder on warrantless wiretapping

[chill_wind]

Run time: 04:42 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WzS8l0H3FU   Posted on YouTube: June 17, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: June 17, 2009 By DU Member: chill_wind Views on DU: 554

 
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Holder Refuses to Stand By Statements Saying Violating FISA Breaks the Law
By: emptywheel Wednesday June 17, 2009 11:30 am

(...)

In a speech to the American Constitutional Society in June 2008, you, sir, set the following. "I never thought that I would see the day when a president would act in direct defiance of federal law by authorizing warrantless NSA surveillance of American citizens."

And the president himself also several times as a senator and during the campaign said the program was illegal. Now that you are the attorney general, is there any doubt in your mind that the warrantless wiretapping program was illegal?

HOLDER: Well, I think that the warrantless wiretapping program as it existed at that point was certainly unwise in that it was put together without the approval of Congress and as a result did not have all the protections, all the strength that it might have had behind it, as -- as I think it now exists with regard to having had congressional approval of it. So I think that the concerns that I expressed in that speech no longer exist because of the action that Congress has taken in regard...

FEINGOLD: But I asked you, Mr. Attorney General, not whether it was unwise, but whether you consider it to be an illegal, because that's certainly the implication of what you said in the quote I read and the explicit statement of the man who is now president of the United States.

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/06/17/holder-refuses-to-stand-by-statements-saying-violating-fisa-breaks-the-law/

[slipslidingaway]

1. knr - just posted a similar video - thanks for the text :) n/t

[slipslidingaway]

2. .....n/t

[underpants]

3. Oh, so that's what a co-equal legislative branch looks like

it's been a while since I've seen one

Good for Feingold

Holder isn't saying it is illegal now because if he does there is no reason to not prosecute it-not that he is right but that is why he won't say it again

[chill_wind]

5. I just wish it was branch of more than a handful.

But Feingold does warm my heart.

[ControlledDemolition]

4. Russ Feingold is a national treasure! n/t