Constitution

08/27/2007 -- Joe Biden, senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee issued the following statement today after the announcement of Attorney General Gonzales' resignation:

"As I've said before, Attorney General Gonzales has lost the confidence of the vast majority of the American people and the Congress. His resignation is long overdue.    » read more »

WASHINGTON -- Today, Presidential Candidate Chris Dodd released the following statement on Alberto Gonzales' resignation:

"Mr. Gonzales' Justice Department became a political wing of the Bush Administration and his resignation is long overdue.

I will only vote to confirm a nominee for Attorney General who is truly independent and who will guarantee reforms that restore and uphold the Constitution."

Source: Chris Dodd campaign

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA -- Governor Bill Richardson, campaigning today in Iowa, released the following statement regarding the resignation of US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

"The resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is long overdue. The President must nominate an Attorney General who is a lawyer for the American people not a political arm of the White House."

Source: Bill Richardson campaign

Aug 27, 2007 -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Senator John Edwards released the following statement following the announcement of the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Edwards has repeatedly called for Gonzales to resign, the first time on March 13, 2007.    » read more »

Aug 27, 2007 -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Commenting today upon the resignation of U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Senator John Edwards released the following statement. Edwards first called for Gonzales' resignation on March 13, 2007.

"Better late than never."

Source: John Edwards campaign

08/27/2007 -- Senator Bernie Sanders months ago called on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign. The senator had voiced concern about privacy abuses by the FBI and the lingering controversy over the firing of federal prosecutors. “It was past time for him to go. He had not been honest with Congress. His credibility was shot. He has not respected the Constitution,” Sanders said.

Sanders added that the confirmation process could be a healthy refresher course in constitutional values.    » read more »

August 20, 2007 -- "Today was the deadline for the Administration to comply with the Judiciary Committee’s subpoenas for documents related to the legal justifications for and President’s authorization of the warrantless wiretapping program. The Administration failed to adequately comply, despite our granting an extension of more than a month past the original return date. The Administration has produced no documents, no adequate basis for noncompliance, no privilege claims, and no complete privilege log.    » read more »

20 August 2007 -- The Democratic chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, has threatened to hold members of the Bush administration in contempt for withholding documents subpoenaed by his panel. The administration did not meet a Monday deadline for handing over information about the legal justification for its wiretapping program.    » read more »

August 16, 2007 -- Washington, DC — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today sent President Bush the following letter, requesting that the President provide all documents and other information sought by the House and Senate Judiciary and Intelligence Committees in order to conduct oversight of the implementation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA):

August 16, 2007

The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:    » read more »

August 15, 2007 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today celebrated the 17th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act with a reception at Gracie Mansion. Signed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act is a landmark civil rights law which has fostered independence, empowerment and inclusion for millions of Americans.    » read more »

August 14, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sent the following letter today to Senators Jay Rockefeller and Pat Leahy, encouraging them to develop long-term modernizations to FISA that better serve our national security interests than the law signed by President Bush this month:

August 14, 2007

The Honorable John D. Rockefeller IV
Chairman, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy
Chairman, Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Jay and Pat:    » read more »

CHICAGO August 6, 2007 -- The American Bar Association is deeply concerned that in passing revisions to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Congress has allowed a great expansion of the warrantless surveillance of American citizens, without adequate checks and balances to prevent invasions of privacy.    » read more »

August 5, 2007 -- "When our intelligence professionals have the legal tools to gather information about the intentions of our enemies, America is safer. And when these same legal tools also protect the civil liberties of Americans, then we can have the confidence to know that we can preserve our freedoms while making America safer.    » read more »

06 August 2007 -- President Bush has signed into law a bill that gives the U.S. government more power to eavesdrop on suspected foreign terrorists.

The legislation lifts a previous requirement that such surveillance could not begin without advance permission from a court. Mr. Bush says in a statement Sunday that this change will give U.S. agents "dynamic and flexible" tools for counterterrorism work.    » read more »

Washington, DC (7/26/2007) - The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was encouraged today by the House Armed Services Committee hearing titled Upholding the Principle of Habeas Corpus for Detainees. The committee discussed Chairman Ike Skelton's (D-MO) proposed bipartisan legislation restoring the due process right of habeas corpus that was taken away by the Military Commissions Act last fall. The ACLU hopes this hearing will lead to the enactment of Chairman Skelton's bill.    » read more »