Comment Of Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.,
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
On Revisions Of The NSA Domestic Surveillance Program
January 17, 2007

PDF of letter from Department of Justice.

“I welcome the President’s decision not to reauthorize the NSA’s warrantless spying program and instead to seek approval for all wiretaps from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, as the law has required for years.

“Since this program was first revealed, I have urged this Administration to inform Congress what the government is doing and to comply with the checks and balances Congress wrote into law in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

“We must engage in all surveillance necessary to prevent acts of terrorism, but we can and should do so in ways that protect the basic rights of all Americans including the right to privacy.  The issue has never been whether to monitor suspected terrorists but doing it legally and with proper checks and balances to prevent abuses.   

“Providing efficient but meaningful court review is a major step toward addressing those concerns.

“I continue to urge the President to fully inform Congress and the American people about the contours of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court order authorizing this surveillance program, and of the program itself.  Only with meaningful oversight can we ensure the balance necessary to achieve security with liberty.”

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