AG Gonzales Defends NSA Spying

On Monday, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales stood adamant in support of President Bush’s power to eavesdrop on Americans without warrants in the name of antiterrorism, the Associated Press (AP) reports.

Gonzales asked Congress not to alter the NSA’s program.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as well as other Democrats in committee, took issue with Gonzales’ plea, noting that “the president does not have a blank check.” Specter cited the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, requesting that a federal court further examine the NSA program’s legality under the act, the AP reports

Specter told Gonzales, “There are a lot of people who think you’re wrong.  What do you have to lose if you are right?”

Dodging the question, Gonzales responded, “Obviously, we would consider and are always considering methods of fighting the war effectively against Al Qaida. To end the program now would afford our enemy dangerous and potential deadly new room for operation within our borders.”

For more CSO coverage, read EFF Sues AT&T Over U.S. Wiretapping Program and Which Companies Cooperated With the NSA?

For CSO sister publication, CIO’s coverage, read What’s Up at the NSA?

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