Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley made the following comment after the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Obama administration must release a redacted version of its Office of Legal Counsel analysis giving the legal authority for the targeted killing of American citizens. Grassley first asked for the legal rationale in October 2011. Grassley and Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy sent a subsequent letter on Feb. 8, 2013.
“The targeted killing of American citizens by their own government should be one of the most fundamental reasons to ensure checks and balances are in place. Up to this point, the Obama administration has been hiding behind a Cliff’s Notes version of the justification that gave no legal analysis for the killings. The 2nd Circuit’s ruling is a positive development. And, while the Justice Department is readying a redacted version of the memo to the American public, they should start preparing to provide access to the Judiciary Committee the unredacted copies of any and all legal opinions drafted by the Office of Legal Counsel that pertain to the targeted killing of U.S. citizens abroad.”