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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Legal Battle Looms Over Domestic Spy Documents

Senate subpoenas; White House balks

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(Newser) – A showdown on the White House's warantless wiretapping program looms after the Senate Judiciary Committee authorized subpoenas for documents on the progam, and the administration said it had no plans to comply, claiming the material is classified and off limits. The president may invoke executive privilege to prevent the documents' release, Reuters reports.

The domestic spying program, abandoned in January, was also the subject of a closed House panel hearing yesterday; former AG John Ashcroft testified that it was the subject of fierce debate within the White House, contridicting earlier testimony by his successor, Alberto Gonzales, the AP reports.  

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)   (Associated Press)
In a photo provided by the University of Mississippi, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales talks with honors students at the University of Mississippi on Thursday, June 21, 2007, in University, Miss. After visiting with students, Gonzales toured the campus' civil rights memorial. (AP Photo/Courtesy of The University of Mississippi,...
In a photo provided by the University of Mississippi, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales talks with honors students at the University of Mississippi on Thursday, June 21, 2007, in University, Miss....   (Associated Press)
(FILES)The logo of the National Security Agency (NSA) hangs at...
(FILES)The logo of the National Security Agency (NSA) hangs at...   (Getty Images)
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Bush administration • Alberto Gonzales • John Ashcroft • Senate Judiciary Committee • domestic intelligence • executive privilege • subpoena • spy • wiretap • warrantless wiretapping

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