Boehner to Obama: You've Got Til Friday to Justify Libya

President Obama has until Friday to ask Congress for authorization of the US mission in Libya, or he will be in violation of the War Powers Act, John Boehner warned him yesterday. The House speaker, noting that Friday will mark 90 days since the US began attacking Libya as part of a NATO campaign, told Obama in a letter that the president must either seek authorization or withdraw troops. Boehner also told House Republicans that GOP lawmakers might look to cut off funding for the mission, Politico reports

Boehner accused Obama of “systematically” avoiding a request for formal authorization and refusing to “comply with the basic tenets of the War Powers Resolution,” leaving Congress and the American people “frustrated.” He asked that internal administration documents related to the issue be turned over by Friday. The House had previously passed a nonbinding resolution urging Obama to provide such information by Friday, and the AFP reports that the White House pledged yesterday to comply. Congressional sources say “a big report” more than 40 pages long is coming today that justifies Obama’s actions. (More Libya stories.)