U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has said in a letter that the Obama administration believes it could technically use military force to kill an American on U.S. soil in an “extraordinary circumstance” but has “no intention of doing so”. Holder”s letter dated March 4 was disclosed by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who had asked whether the Justice Department believed President Barack Obama had the legal authority to order a targeted strike against an American citizen located within the US, reports the Huffington Post. According to Holder, the Obama administration rejected the use of military force where “well-established law enforcement authorities in this country provide the best means for incapacitating a terrorist threat”. But in theory, it would be legal for the president to order such an attack under certain circumstances, he added. Holder, however, said that the situation is hypothetical, and is unlikely to occur. Holder said the president would “examine the particular facts and circumstances” if such an emergency were to arise. Holder is scheduled to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a Justice Department oversight hearing on Wednesday morning. Earlier in the day, members of the Senate Intelligence Committee said the administration had agreed to allow members of the committee to see all of the Office of Legal Counsel memos relating to the targeted killing of American citizens. (ANI)
