The legal siege against the Bush administration’s counterterrorism programs goes far beyond the C.I.A., including lawsuits brought on behalf of hundreds of detainees held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and more than 40 challenges in court to the National Security Agency’s warrantless surveillance program.

Attorney General resigns
The departure of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales could unlock the Bush administration's legal closet, bringing new details tumbling into the open about issues including the treatment of terrorism suspects, warrantless surveillance of Americans, and the administration's definition of official secrets.

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Document deadline missed
On March 16, the administration missed a deadline to turn over new documents in a congressional investigation into whether the firings were part of a larger effort to politicize the department. The Justice Department said it would turn over on Mar. 19 the remaining documents that Congress requested. But the White House offered no such assurance. here

a profoundly disturbing breach of public trust

The FBI in 2005 reported to Congress that its agents had delivered a total of 9,254 national security letters seeking e-mail, telephone or financial information on 3,501 U.S. citizens and legal residents over the previous two years. Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine's report says the number of letters was underreported by 20 percent, according to the officials.
Sen. Charles Schumer, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee that oversees the FBI, called the reported findings "a profoundly disturbing breach of public trust." here

Claimed source of power for warrantless wiretaps
The White House claims Congress granted it widespread powers to execute the war on terror after passing the joint resolution called the Authorization for the Use of Military Force. here Joint Resolution Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, 50 USC 1541, PUBLIC LAW 107–243 including warrantless wiretaps.

WH unblocks Security Clearance for FISA investigation
Last December, an arm of the Justice Department, the Office of Professional Responsibility sought to examine ethical issues surrounding the roles played by Justice Department lawyers in the FISA eavesdropping program. But its review was blocked when Mr. Bush personally refused security clearances for its investigators. On Monday, DOJ's Glenn Fine informed members of Congress that he was opening an investigation after the White House had agreed to approve the necessary security clearances for members of his staff. here