Monday, January 16, 2006

Specter Says G.O.P Will Scrutinize Domestic Spying

quote[The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Arlen Specter, said today that Republicans would not grant President Bush "a blank check" in seeking to determine whether the domestic eavesdropping program that Mr. Bush authorized after the Sept. 11 attacks violated the law.

"Just because we're of the same party doesn't mean we're not going to look at this closely," Senator Specter said in an appearance on "This Week" on ABC. Mr. Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, plans to hold committee hearings on the matter next month, with witnesses to include Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales.

The program authorized by Mr. Bush bypassed a special federal court whose approval is required under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for domestic eavesdropping operations. Mr. Specter has said he does not agree with the White House view that Congress effectively authorized the surveillance, which was carried out by the National Security Agency, in a resolution passed shortly after the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.]


Is the tide turning against the Bush administration?

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