See Sen Sarbanes on censure of Bush

Written by: Nora Engel on Mar 20, 2006 4:48 PM EST

Thought you would like to see Sen Sarbanes reply to my request that he support Sen Feingold's Censure of Bush motion. Regards, Nora


Dear Mrs. Engel:

Thank you for getting in touch with me to express your
views on S. Res. 398, a resolution to censure President Bush. I appreciate the benefit of your comments on this important matter.

S. Res. 398 would censure President Bush for his actions
related to eavesdropping on communications of Americans, within the United States, without obtaining the court orders required by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. The resolution was introduced on March 13, 2006, and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary for review.

I certainly understand your concerns about the NSA
program, particularly as Congress has given the President authority
to obtain orders for such surveillance on an expedited basis - even
after the fact - from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
The NSA program appears to contradict long-standing restrictions
on domestic spying and subvert constitutional guarantees against
unwarranted invasions of privacy. Allowing government officials
to engage in domestic surveillance of U.S. citizens without proper
authorization undermines the very basis of a free society, and I
believe the NSA program must be fully investigated.

Although I am not a member of the Judiciary Committee,
you may be certain that I will keep your views in mind should this
resolution come before the full Senate for consideration. Again,
thank you for taking the time to contact my office.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further
matters of interest or concern to you.


In the future please visit my web site at sarbanes.senate.gov... rather than
clicking reply.

With best regards,
Paul Sarbanes
United States Senator

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Location: Montgomery County, MD 20850