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Rep. Conyers stands with Rand Paul on drones – despite Twitter mix-up
Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, is publicly backing Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) filibuster over the Obama administration’s drone-strike policy – despite a Twitter mix-up.
The pro-transparency group captured a screenshot of Conyers’ tweet, which read: “I #StandWithRand and any others who support robust oversignt [sic] & transparency for the armed #drone program.”
Conyers included, in the message, a link to a statement criticizing the drone program that he gave at a late February House hearing.
Conyers on Monday again tweeted in support of Paul from the House Judiciary Democrats's own Twitter feed.
"At #HJC113 Hearing @RepJohnConyers supported oversight and transparency for the armed #drone program. http://democrats.judiciary.house.gov/press-release/conyers-statement-oversight-hearing-drones … #StandWithRand," read the new tweet.
A spokesman told The Hill they believed the tweet would have more impact on the Judiciary Twitter account, and would highlight the panel's oversight hearing last month on the drone program.
Paul’s filibuster delayed – but did not stop – the confirmation of John Brennan to run the Central Intelligence Agency.
The Kentucky senator raised a series of constitutional, due-process concerns with the drone program, including questions about whether it could be used to target Americans on U.S. soil.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder provided Paul a letter March 7 stating:
"It has come to my attention that you have now asked an additional question: 'Does the president have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?’ The answer to that question is no."
This story and headline were updated on March 11 at 12:26 p.m.
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