We've got news breaking this afternoon that Bush's secret surveillance programs extended beyond the warrantless wiretaping that's been described earlier.
From the AP, via TPM:
A new internal government report says President George W. Bush authorized secret intelligence activities shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that went beyond wiretapping without court orders.
Details of those activities remain classified, but are referred to in the newly released report as the President's Surveillance Program.
It's time we got an answer to the question: Was the Bush Administration breaking into American citizens' homes without warrants?
There's evidence in the public record that that might be the case.
During a Senate hearing, Alberto Gonzales was asked whether the administration was breaking into homes without warrants. He declined to answer, but indicated that the Authorization to Use Military Force that he interpreted as allowing warrantless wiretaping may also allow warrantless break-ins.
Go to the transcript ...
SCHUMER: ... We talked before about the legal theory that you have, under AUMF [authority to use military force]. And I had asked you that under your legal theory, can the government, without ever going to a judge or getting a warrant, search an American's home or office. ...
GONZALES: I'm not suggesting that it is different, quite frankly. I would like the opportunity, simply, to think...
SCHUMER: I'm sorry. If you could pull the mike up. Sorry.
GONZALES: I'm sorry. I'm not saying that it would be different. I would simply like the opportunity to contemplate over it and give you an answer.
So, Gonzales stated twice that he didn't make a distinction in the "AUMF" regarding wiretaps and home searches.
Picking up with Schumer again:
Now, here's the next question I have: Has the government done this? Has the government searched someone's home, an American citizen, or office, without a warrant since 9/11, let's say?
GONZALES: To my knowledge, that has not happened under the terrorist surveillance program, and I'm not going to go beyond that. (emphasis mine)
SCHUMER: I don't know what that -- what does that mean, under the terrorist surveillance program? The terrorist surveillance program is about wiretaps. This is about searching someone's home. It's different.
So it wouldn't be done under the surveillance program. I'm asking you if it has been done, period.
GONZALES: But now you're asking me questions about operations or possible operations, and I'm not going to get into that, Senator.
There's more in the transcript, which you can find here. Search for "Schumer" and it'll take you to the good stuff.
It's time to get some answers regarding just how many laws the Bush administration broke.