Gonzales Grilled at Senate Hearing, Defends NSA Spy Program

Yesterday's hearings got off to a testy start when some Democrats on the Committee asked that Gonazales be sworn in before his testimony. The Republican Chairman of the committee, Arlen Specter, declared it wasn't necessary and allowed the hearings to proceed without a swearing in.

We turn now to excerpts of the hearings. Senator Arlen Specter started the questioning by asking why the administration insists on bypassing the FISA court, which has the power to legally authorize government wiretaps.

* Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter questioning Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold also asked pointed questions of Gonzales and accused him of lying under oath during his nomination hearings to become attorney general.

* Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), questioning Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy posed some of the toughest questions to Gonzales.

* Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), questioning Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

LISTEN ONLINE(with transcripts):
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/02/07/1457259