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By KATHERINE SHRADER
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee expressed skepticism on Monday over President Bush's assertion that he has the legal authority to wiretap Americans' conversations.
Federal law "has a forceful and blanket prohibition against any electronic surveillance without a court order," said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., as he opened a hearing on the National Security Agency's eavesdropping program.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was the sole witness before Monday's session.
While the president claims he has the authority to order such surveillance to protect Americans from terrorist attacks, Specter said, "I am skeptical of that interpretation."
The senior Democrat on the panel, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, said in an opening statement that, while al-Qaida terrorists should be monitored, Bush chose to illegally wiretap Americans' conversations without safeguards to protect civil liberties.
"My concern is for peaceful Quakers who are being spied upon, and other law-abiding Americans and babies and nuns who are placed on terrorist watch lists," Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, said in prepared remarks.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
