U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan today released a copy of a harshly worded letter he sent to the White House expressing “grave concern” over the administration’s policy on the use of drones that allows for the killing of U.S. citizens suspected of affiliation with terrorist organizations.
"It is imperative that you explain to the American people why you believe the assassination of American citizens by their own government without due process is legally and constitutionally acceptable," Buchanan says in the letter dated February 6.
The comments by Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, come days after NBC News reported on a memo that outlined the Obama administration’s decision to kill al-Qaida terror suspects without evidence that specific and imminent plots are being planned against the United States.
Buchanan’s letter comes a day before the U.S. Senate is to begin confirmation hearings for John Brennan, Obama’s choice to be the new head of the CIA.
Buchanan says in his letter that the administration's policy appears to "represent a disturbing violation of the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution which guarantees all American citizens due process under the law and protects individuals against government overreach."
