Me & Diane Feinstein are so close we're like *that*

February 16, 2006


Ms. Traci Schock
XXXX North XXXXX Avenue
Fresno, California XXXXXX

Dear Ms. Schock:

Thank you for writing to me about recent
revelations that the United States Government has
engaged in domestic electronic eavesdropping without
appropriate legal authority. I welcome the opportunity to
respond.

On February 6th, the Senate Judiciary Committee
held the first of a series of hearings into this matter, at
which Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testified about
the legality of the program. He provided none of the
documents the Committee required for proper oversight,
and his assurances alone did not allay my concerns.
Instead, he propounded a radical legal theory of
presidential power largely unrestrained by either
Congress or the courts.

I have carefully reviewed the Constitution and the
laws relating to this domestic intelligence activity, along
with the President's statements and those of the Attorney
General and other Administration officials. I believe that
the electronic surveillance program was not conducted in
accordance with U.S. law. The program, as described,
violates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which
requires a court order for surveillance of Americans.
Congress has updated FISA many times since 9/11 in
order to provide our nation with all the necessary tools to
fight terrorism. The Administration has never asked for
the authority to conduct this program.

I believe the Administration also violated the
National Security Act, which requires all members of the
Intelligence Committee to be fully and currently
informed of all significant intelligence activities other
than covert actions. I am a member of the Intelligence
Committee, and yet I was not told about this program
until it was made public.

There will be further hearings in the Senate
Judiciary and Intelligence Committees. Once the facts
are clear, we can decide on appropriate corrective action.

Again, thank you for writing. I hope that you will
continue to write to me on issues of importance to you.
Best regards.



Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator