Russ Feingold: “I rise to oppose the second-degree amendment. This is a classic example of people hiding behind a tragedy in this…”

“I rise to oppose the second-degree amendment. This is a classic example of people hiding behind a tragedy in this country to make arguments that have no merit. This argument, that the provision of pleadings, legal arguments by the Government, will somehow compromise sources and methods and bring down the intelligence system, has no merit. When the Senator from Arizona asked me specifically whether my amendment allows for certain sensitive information to be redacted, my answer was yes, and he didn't respond. In fact, I had already stated that in my opening statement. Everything the Senator from Missouri referred to--confidential information, sensitive information about individuals we are going after, critical intelligence--all of that can be redacted. What the Senator wants to help the administration do is prevent Members of Congress--and by the way, these are kept classified; it is only people who have certain clearances who can see them--from seeing the pleadings provided to an article III court. That is the basis for their arguments. As I pointed out in my statement, a lot of times the court just refers to the pleadings in its orders. So if we don't have the pleadings, we have no idea what the order is about. Listen very carefully because this kind of argument is going to be used with regard to every aspect of this bill. Everything is a red line.”