AG: No Special Counsel for 'Spygate'

NewsMax ^ | Jan. 17, 2006 | Carl Limbacher

[Kaslin]

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Monday that he saw no reason to appoint a special counsel to investigate President Bush's decision to authorize the National Security Agency to monitor the phone calls from suspected terrorists operating abroad.

Asked about former Vice President Al Gore's demand yesterday that the Justice Department appoint a "Spygate" special counsel, Gonzales told the Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" that there was no basis to believe any laws were broken by the NSA program.

"We firmly believe that this program is perfectly lawful," Gonzales explained. "The president has legal authority to authorize these kinds of activities."

Pressed by Sean Hannity on whether there would be "no special counsel, in any way, shape, matter or form?" Gonzales replied:

"This has been looked at very, very carefully. And the Department of Justice believes clearly that the president acted within his lawful authorities."

The top lawman also refused to comment on precedents for the Bush program, including an NSA surveillance operation that reached fruition during the Clinton administration known as Project Echelon.

Asked specifically about Echelon, Gonzales said: "Well, I'm not going to talk about super-secret, code-named programs, either now or in the past."

Reminded that Echelon had already received extensive publicity despite its classified status, Gonzales said: "Well, again, I'm only going to talk about that portion of the program that [President Bush] disclosed to the American public . . . where we believe one person of that phone call is affiliated with Al Qaeda or a member of Al Qaeda."

[Kaslin]

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Talks with Sean Hannity

Transcript

[freeangel]

What about the treason that was committed in leaking the program?

[shield]

Thank God NO SPECIAL PROCECUROR...after 22 million with Barrett...then probably the most important part of this report 100 pages will be redacted....so what's the point...then we've got fitz...who found NO crime committed; case should have been concluded within 6 wks once Val was found NOT TO BE and undercover agent....

[savedbygrace]

No, no, no, no - this should not be named as another 'gate.

[Phlap]

Why would a prosecutor of any kind be appointed to investigate lawful activity?

[SkyPilot]

"I want an Independent Counsel!"

Big deal. I want a pony.

[Wasanother]

This is becoming a real non-story real quick. The more the Rats and Rino's yell the more obvious this is becoming. Risen's book went from #52 to now #146 on B&N charts in one week and the book was released Jan 6.

[MNJohnnie]

I want an Independent Counsel! Al Gore.

No one cares Al.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Good news bump!

[backtothestreets]

There's more to this story then has been discussed in the media, and it involves the White House, and Congressional members from both parties as they were aware of what was occurring.

The spying was not limited to communications as has been reported, but included US citizens with no terrorist links, and communication that were purely domestic.

I won't give details, and have no intention of discussing this with any media source. If an investigation moved forward, be it initiated by the White House or Congress, the results could distance the citizens further from their elected office holders than it already is.

From my perspective, based entirely on knowledge I have, the real question is if law abiding citizens have a right to privacy from their government. If the answer is no, the government would be justified in setting aside privacy on such matters as gun ownership, or assembly of law abiding citizens also.

Mistakes were made, and I'm not really wanting to know who was responsible, but I do want to know it has stopped and won't be repeated. I believe law abiding citizens, where no national threat exists, are due their privacy.

[p23185]

This is becoming a real non-story real quick. The more the Rats and Rino's yell the more obvious this is becoming.

The RATs and LLL are becoming more vicious every week as they ratchet up their rant and call for impeachment. I say keep it up because it is causing all kinds of problems for the DNC - how can they support their radical base and not alienate millions of centrist DemonRATs with the sort of bullsh$t we've heard in the last week. I am convinced the LLL will take to the streets for a bout of violence when they finally realize they are fighting a loosing game here with the attempted take down of the Bush Admin - THEY CANNOT ADMIT THEY LOST IN 2000 AND IN 2004. THEY ARE STILL MOANING ABOUT ELECTION REFORM AND HOW BUSH STOLE BOTH ELECTIONS.

[jveritas]

The spying was not limited to communications as has been reported, but included US citizens with no terrorist links, and communication that were purely domestic.

Stop your f***ing lies.