(CNN) -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales once again Monday defended the legality of a controversial surveillance program by the National Security Agency, calling it a "very targeted and limited" operation that has helped thwart terrorist attacks in the United States.
In an interview with CNN's "Larry King Live," Gonzales rejected a call earlier in the day from former Vice President Al Gore for a special prosecutor to investigate the program, under which the NSA has intercepted international communications of people inside the United States without obtaining a warrant.
"This program from its inception has been carefully reviewed by lawyers from throughout the administration, people who are experienced in this area of the law," Gonzales said. "We believe the president does have the legal authorities to authorize this program."
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Gonzales said also said members of Congress have been been briefed on specific instances in which the warrantless surveillance has "been extremely helpful in protecting America" from terrorist attacks. However, because the program is highly classified, he said he could not make public examples of how terrorist attacks were disrupted by the eavesdropping.
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