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CONTACT: media@dcaclu.org
Senate Must Ask Tough Questions of Controversial Nominee
WASHINGTON -- Following the announcement that President Bush will nominate
General Michael V. Hayden to be the new Director of the Central Intelligence
Agency, the American Civil Liberties Union urged the Senate to vigorously
question the nominee on his involvement with the warrantless program to spy on
Americans. Hayden was the director of the National Security Agency when
this illegal program was launched in 2001 and has been one the chief defenders
of these actions in violation of the Fourth Amendment and the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act.
The ACLU is a non-partisan organization, and takes no official position on
the nomination of any cabinet-level appointees.
The following can be attributed to Anthony D. Romero, ACLU Executive
Director:
"The appointment of General Hayden is the latest example of
President Bush giving promotions to those who have led the greatest
attacks on our Constitution and fundamental freedoms. This administration
continues to demonstrate a fundamental lack of respect for the rule of law and
our core civil liberties and civil rights. We hope that the Senate will
use this opportunity to break through the administration's stonewalling about
the illegal program to spy on Americans without any check. Lawmakers
and the American people have a right to know how many people have had their
private conversations monitored.
"Hayden's approval of warrantless surveillance on Americans raises
serious questions about whether the CIA would be further unleashed on the
American public. It was under General Hayden's watch that the NSA started
to wiretap Americans, without court or Congress' approval, even though the
FISA Court acts quickly to review requests for intelligence
investigations. Those who oversee our nation's intelligence agencies must
have the highest respect and regard for our Constitution -- not the blatant
disregard that individuals like General Hayden have shown. This is also an
opportunity for Senators to demand the CIA to disclose its operations that may
have run afoul of the Constitution and other federal laws - the practice of
extraordinary rendition, the torture and abuse of prisoners and the use of
'black sites,' or secret prisons operated overseas. We encourage the
Senate to fully investigate this nominee."
For more on the ACLU's concerns with the warrantless NSA spying program, go
to: www.aclu.org/nsaspying
