Senate leaders to question Alito about president's war powers

CAPITOL HILL The controversy over President Bush's defense of domestic spying without warrants is spilling over to the Supreme Court confirmation process.

Senators say high court nominee Samuel Alito will have to answer questions about how he views the president's powers in the war on terror.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter and ranking Democrat Patrick Leahy have sent separate letters to Alito. The senators say they'll ask about the president's authority to order warrantless spying at Alito's confirmation hearings.

Bush says warrantless spying, conducted by the National Security Agency, is an essential element in the war on terror. The president says the Constitution gives him the authority to order the warrantless monitoring of phone calls and e-mails of individuals in this country believed to be plotting with terrorists overseas.