Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined his colleagues in calling for a congressional investigation into President Bush’s secret domestic spying program.

“Revelations that President Bush approved intercepting phone calls and emails by U.S. citizens in the name of fighting terrorists is extremely troubling and warrants an immediate and thorough congressional investigation.

“This is not a matter of fighting terrorism.  Congress has repeatedly extended the president’s authority to fight terrorism. Despite the expanded tools Congress has given the president to fight terrorism, he still chose to reach outside of the law and Constitution.

“The last time it was clear that the U.S. government spied on its citizens, we rejected it as an invasion of our privacy. We should reject it again now and leave those dark days in the past.

“The president says he has both the constitutional authority and responsibility to keep us safe. Every elected official bears that responsibility, and we also bear the responsibility of following the law. We must act within the legal authority that the American people have given us.

“The president is now trying to legally justify his directive to spy on U.S. citizens by claiming he was given authority through a resolution authorizing military action in Afghanistan that passed in the days following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. I can assure you that Congress had no intention of that resolution ever being used to justify the warrant-less spying on U.S. citizens.

“No president should be able to say he can spy on our citizens for whatever reason and expect Congress to roll over. Congress needs to provide oversight on this issue and stop overlooking these kinds of attacks on our Constitution and the American values of freedom and democracy.”