US Attorney General Eric Holder made clear on Thursday that a president does not have the power to order a drone strike against a “non combatant” American inside the United States.
Holder’s clarifying comment came in a short letter to Senator Rand Paul, who launched a 13-hour, non-stop filibuster in the Senate demanding answers from the administration on the scope of drone policy.
“It has come to my attention that you have now asked an additional question,” Holder said, offering extra information not included in a previous letter sent on Tuesday.
“‘Does the President have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?’ The answer to that question is ‘no’,” he said.
Paul mounted the filibuster delaying tactic into the early hours of Thursday against the nomination John Brennan to head the CIA.
He had demanded a clarification from the administration to ensure “they are not going to kill non-combatants in America.”
On Tuesday, Holder had said that, while Obama had “no intention” of ordering drone strikes on US soil, the scenario could be possible if there was an “extraordinary circumstance” such as an attack similar to 9/11.
Paul told CNN after the letter was released that he had fought hard for such information. “I kind of won my battle,” he said.
Holder clarifies president's drone authority
