Rand Paul filibusters Brennan nomination: “I will speak until I can no longer speak. I will speak as long as it takes”
Since 11:47 am today, the junior Senator from Kentucky, Rand Paul (R) has been talking and talking. An old-fashioned filibuster in the Senate chamber is happening as I type in an effort to stall a confirmation vote on CIA Director nominee John Brennan.
The Wednesday filibuster demonstrates Paul’s view about his and many others concerns about the legality of drone strikes against U.S. citizens here and abroad.
This come a day after Dr. Paul received letters from Mr. Brennan and Attorney General Eric Holder and their response to Paul’s questions on the legality of drone use. He critiqued the responses from each man.
In Holder’s response he stated it was possible the president could be forced by an “extraordinary circumstance” to kill citizens inside the United States.
Paul started this morning saying, “I rise today to begin to filibuster John Brennan’s nomination for the CIA. I will speak until I can no longer speak. I will speak as long as it takes.”
“No American should be killed by a drone on American soil without first being charged with a crime, without first being found guilty of a crime by a court,” Paul said. “How can you kill someone without going to a judge, or a jury?”
He also noted that the filibuster has nothing to do with politics, noting that he voted to support the nominations of John Kerry and Chuck Hagel, the secretaries of State and Defense.
Joining Paul in the filibuster in questioning included Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).
More than four hours into the filibuster, Sen. Paul appears to still energetic.
The filibuster continues…
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