Dianne Feinstein: “I was heartened when Senator Specter also said that he believed that if the New York Times report is true--and the fact…”

“I was heartened when Senator Specter also said that he believed that if the New York Times report is true--and the fact that they have withheld the story for a year leads me to believe it is true, and I have heard no denunciation of it by the administration-- then it is inappropriate, it is a violation of the law. How can I go out, how can any Member of this body go out, and say that under the PATRIOT Act we protect the rights of American citizens if, in fact, the President is not going to be bound by the law, which is the FISA court? And there are no exceptions to the FISA court. So Senator Specter, this morning, as the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, announced that he would hold hearings on this matter the first thing next year. I truly believe this is the most significant thing I have heard in my 12 years. I am so proud of this Government because we are governed by the rule of law, and so few countries can really claim that. I am so proud that nobody can be picked up in the middle of the night and thrown into jail without due process, and that they have due process. That is what makes us different. That is why our Government is so special, and that is why this Constitution is so special. That is why the fourth amendment was added to the Bill of Rights--to state clearly that searches and seizures must be carried out under the parameter of law, not on the direction of a President unilaterally.…”