{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-udall-heinrich-use-of-lethal-force-against-anwar-al-aulaqi-was-legal-public-and-congress-deserve-more-info-on-targeted-killing-rules", "Wyden, Udall, Heinrich: Use of Lethal Force Against Anwar al-Aulaqi Was Legal; Public and Congress Deserve More Info on Targeted Killing Rules", "2013-11-26", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tuesday, November 26, 2013\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. \u2013 After considerable review of both the decision to use lethal force against Anwar al-Aulaqi and the rules governing such \u201ctargeted killings,\u201d U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) have concluded that the use of lethal force against al-Aulaqi \u2013 an American -- met legal standards. In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, the senators \u2013 all members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence \u2013 said the lethal action against al-Aulaqi was a \u201clegitimate use of the authority granted to the President\u201d but also expressed concern that the limits and boundaries of these authorities are not yet, and should be, public knowledge. \u00a0The Senators pressed for more openness regarding these limits and boundaries, particularly the rules for taking lethal action against Americans, and the rules for preventing harm to civilians. \u00a0    \u00a0    In their letter, the Senators referenced al-Aulaqi\u2019s decision to join an organized fighting force engaged in attacks against the U.S., his leadership role in this organization and his involvement in the planning of ongoing operations and intent to carry them out.    \u00a0    \u201cMr. al-Aulaqi clearly made a conscious decision to join an organized fighting force that was (and is) engaged in planning and carrying out attacks against the United States \u2026,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cBy taking on a leadership role in this organization, involving himself in ongoing operational planning against the United States, and demonstrating the capacity and intent to carry out these operations, he made himself a legitimate target for military action.\u201d    \u00a0    The Senators urged the President to make the rules governing \u201ctargeted killings\u201d available to the American people. They asked the Executive Branch to explain exactly how much evidence is necessary to determine whether an American should be a target for military action. They also seek a public explanation of the requirements governing how an individual is determined to be an \u201cimminent\u201d threat whose capture is \u201cinfeasible.\u201d    \u00a0    \u201cWe have also concluded that the limits and boundaries of the President\u2019s power to authorize the deliberate killing of Americans need to be laid out with much greater specificity,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cThe United States\u2019 playbook for combatting terrorism will sometimes include sections that are secret, but the rulebook that the United States follows should always be available to the American public. \u2026 As we see it, every American has the right to know when their government believes it is allowed to kill them.\u201d \u00a0    \u00a0    The senators also requested additional legal analysis, and called for more details about the rules for protecting civilians to be made public. \u00a0    \u00a0    Click here to read the full letter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-udall-heinrich-use-of-lethal-force-against-anwar-al-aulaqi-was-legal-public-and-congress-deserve-more-info-on-targeted-killing-rules"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4078731182962656, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}