Rand Paul filibuster still going strong hours later (VIDEO)
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is seen on a TV monitor participating in a filibuster on the Senate floor as Politco reporter Tim Mak works on his story at the Senate Press Gallery March 6, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Paul was filibustering the Senate to oppose the nomination of John Brennan to be the next director of CIA.
Sen. Rand Paul showed no signs of stopping, or even slowing, as his filibuster cracked 12 hours of arguing against the appointment of John O. Brennan to lead the CIA.
The Republican from Kentucky promised to argue “until I can no longer speak,” Bloomberg reported.
Paul’s biggest issue is CIA oversight and the White House drone policy, and hoped to block the vote to appoint Brennan.
“I rise today to begin to filibuster John Brennan’s nomination for the CIA,” he said.
While much of the city was battling a snowstorm, CSPAN2 broadcast the filibuster for those who couldn’t make it into the Senate.
Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) joined in the efforts, rising to ask questions of Paul and contribute to the filibustering, the Washington Post said.
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The rare talking filibuster is the first in two years and first since new rules put in place earlier this year.
“I will speak as long as it takes, until the alarm is sounded from coast to coast that our Constitution is important, that your rights to trial by jury are precious, that no American should be killed by a drone on American soil without first being charged with a crime, without first being found to be guilty by a court,” Paul said, according to the Post.
He began just before noon Tuesday, the New York Times said.
Rand outlined his plans after Attorney General Eric Holder said the White House wouldn’t rule out using unmanned drones on American soil in “extraordinary circumstances,” the Times reported.
Sen. Strom Thurmond holds the record for a filibuster when he spoke for more than 24 hours in 1957, the Post said.
The Democrat from South Carolina was trying to block a vote on civil rights legislation.
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