Response From Sen. Feingold on Impeachment

December 1, 2006

Dear Mr. Richardson,

Thank you for contacting me regarding presidential impeachment. I appreciate hearing from you.

The Constitution grants the House of Representatives the authority to draft articles of impeachment, and gives the Senate the power to try an impeachment. Each decision as to whether or not to convict on each article must be made separately, and a conviction on any single article is sufficient grounds for removal from office.

I believe the President should be held accountable for breaking the law by authorizing warrantless wiretaps of Americans on American soil. The President's claims of inherent executive authority, and his assertions that the courts have approved this type of activity, are baseless. He has broken the law, and he has made it clear that he will continue to do so. The President must be held accountable for his actions, and Congress must take action to check the power of an executive branch that is willing to flout the law.

That is why, on Monday, March 13, 2006, I introduced a resolution to censure the President because of his actions. I believe that this is an appropriate response to the President's illegal wiretapping program. Congress must hold the President accountable for authorizing a program that clearly violates the law and for misleading the country about its existence and legality.

There is no question that the government should wiretap suspected terrorists both inside and outside the United States to protect our national security. But the President has not explained why the government cannot comply with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which sets out the procedures by which the government can obtain a warrant from a secret court known as the FISA Court to authorize electronic surveillance of individuals in the United States who are suspected of terrorism or espionage.

As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I will continue to push for a full congressional investigation and for full accountability. If you would like to read the text of the censure resolution please go to <" target=_blank >http://feingold.senate.gov/censureresolution.pdf>. To view the statement I delivered on the Senate floor just prior to introducing the resolution, please go to <" target=_blank >http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/statements/06/03/2006313.html>.

Thank you again for contacting me regarding holding the President accountable for his actions. I look forward to hearing from you in the future.

Sincerely,Russell D. Feingold
United States Senator

If you wish to contact me again, please visit " target=_blank >http://feingold.senate.gov/contact.html.