The Washington Times

Holder: No authority for drone strikes on non-combatant Americans

Attorney general sends letter to Paul after filibuster

Attorney General Eric Holder has sent Sen. Rand Paul a letter expressly saying that the president does not have the authority to use drones to kill American on U.S. soil who are not enemy combatants.

White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters at 1:15 pm. that Mr. Holder’s letter to the Kentucky Republican went out shortly after noon, and just 12 hours after Mr. Paul stages a marathon talking filibuster on the Senate floor demanding clarification of U.S. drone policies and the president’s authority to order strikes on Americans.


SEE RELATED: Rand Paul raises national profile by using filibuster to take stand on drone controversy


Mr. Holder’s letter answers Mr. Rand’s question, “Does the president have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill Americans not engaged in combat on U.S. soil,” Mr. Carney said.

“The answer to that question is no,” he said. “A letter signed by the attorney general has gone out in the last half an hour.”

© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus

      Independent voices from the TWT Communities

      The Editors Say

      We welcome you to the intimate and personal thoughts on the news and events we, as editors, watch, read, and discuss with our writers every day.

      Sightseers' Delight

      Consummate traveler Todd DeFeo explores the unique stories that make destinations worth going to.