The White House issued a two-sentence response on Thursday to a 13-hour filibuster led by Sen. Rand Paul over whether the president is authorized to use a weaponized drone to kill U.S. citizens not engaged on combat on American soil.
“It has come to my attention that you have now asked an additional question: ‘Does the President have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?’ The answer to that question is no,” Attorney General Eric Holder wrote.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney read the letter during his daily press briefing.
Paul said in an interview on CNN on Thursday that Holder's response was satisfactory and that he would allow a vote on the nomination of John Brennan to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. The vote is scheduled to begin shortly after 3 p.m. on Thursday.
Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Paul introduce a bill today that would prohibit the killing of U.S. citizens on U.S. soil if they do not present an imminent threat.
“Our Constitution restrains government power,” said Cruz, a Texas Republican. “The federal government may not use drones to kill U.S. citizens on U.S. soil if they do not represent an imminent threat. The commander in chief does, of course, have the power to protect Americans from imminent attack, and nothing in this legislation interferes with that power.”
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