[JMI]

DEPT OF JUSTICE LETTER TO RANKING MEMBERS OF THE SEN / HSE INTELLIGENT COMM.

As you know, in responsc to unauthorized disclosures in the media, the President has
described certain activitics of the National Security Agency ("NSA") that he has authorized since
shortly after Septcmber 1 1,200 1 . As described by the President, the NSA intercepts certain
international communications into and out of the United States of people linked to al Qaeda or an
affiliated terrorist organization. The purpose of these intercepts is to establish an early warning
system to detect and prcvent another catastrophic terrorist attack on the IJnited States. The
President has made clear that he will use his constitutional and statutory authorities to protect the
Amer~canp eople from further terrorist attacks, and the NSA activities the President described are
part of that effort. Leaders of the Congress were briefed on these activities more than a dozen
tlnies.
The purpose of this letter is to provide an additional brief summary of the legal authority
supporting the NSA activities described by the President.