Condi On Meet The Press

Tim Russert asks her repeatedly to cite the specific legal justification for the NSA domestic surveillance revealed by the New York Times. Rice: "I'm not a lawyer" You can bet there's an army af administration lawyers working in the background trying to gin up a defense of the illegal program. Had there been a clear answer to the question, the President and Secretary of State could have easily reached into the files and come up with the relevant cite by now. The fact that they haven't indicates the legal framework is being rigged after the fact. She also allowed that there will be questions about her role as National Security Adviser. Under FISA rules, she would not have been permitted to make certifications in warrant applications: None of the above officials, nor anyone officially acting in that capacity, may exercise the authority to make the above certifications, unless that official has been appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The NSA is not confirmed by the Senate. Any initiatives coming out of her office would have been forced to follow a more circuitous route to be approved. Did the administration break the law to get around this provision?