WP:

The chief judge of a secret intelligence court is willing to turn over to Congress copies of new orders that allow government surveillance of international communications, but Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales signaled that he was likely to block such an action.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, presiding judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, wrote in a letter late Wednesday to the leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee that she had "no objection to this material being made available" to lawmakers.

But the judge said it was up to Gonzales's department to decide the matter since the documents include classified information.

Gonzales, during an appearance this morning in front of judiciary panel, suggested under questioning from Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) that he was unlikely to allow the court to provide senators with the documents.

Posted by Laura at January 18, 2007 03:36 PM