Congressional report raps eavesdropping

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Congressional investigators said Friday President Bush's secret eavesdropping program "may represent an exercise of presidential power at its lowest ebb."

The formal report by the Congressional Research Service was cautious, the New York Times reported. It did not find the program was illegal, saying instead that its legal basis "does not seem to be as well-grounded" as the administration argues.

The report said a congressional vote immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks -- authorizing the president to go to war against al-Qaida -- did not authorize wiretapping without a warrant.

"As the attorney general has stated numerous times, the National Security Agency activities described by the president were conducted in accordance with the law and provide a critical tool in the war on terror that saves lives and protects civil liberties at the same time," said Justice Department spokesman, Brian Roehrkasse.