March 7, 2013
WASHINGTON — After nearly 13 hours on the Senate floor, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., ended his
filibuster blocking Senate confirmation of John Brennan, President Obama's pick for director of the CIA.
"I'm going to speak as long as I can to draw attention to something I find very disturbing," Paul said when he started speaking around 11:45 a.m. Wednesday morning. He finally ceded the floor at about 12:40 a.m. local time on Thursday.
But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, also a Kentucky Republican, said he would continue to oppose Brennan's confirmation and ending debate on it.
What started in the morning as a solo effort turned into a multi-senator debate that included one Democrat, Ron Wyden of Oregon, and at least seven Republicans questioning the constitutionality of drone strikes on U.S. citizens at home and abroad.
In a show of support, several of Paul's colleagues who share his conservative views came to the floor to take turns speaking for him and trading questions. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, read Twitter messages from people eager to "Stand With Rand." Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., made references to rappers Jay-Z and Wiz Khalifa.
"No American should be killed by a drone on American soil without first being charged with a crime, without first being found guilty of a crime by a court," Paul said. "How can you kill someone without going to a judge, or a jury?"...
(more) https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...uster/1969869/
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