White House releases drone memos ahead of John Brennan vote

WASHINGTON (USA TODAY) -- The White House has agreed to hand over to the Senate Intelligence Committee additional opinions from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel related to the targeted killings of Americans.

The decision by the White House to release the legal documents regarding the U.S. intelligence community's secret drone program comes as the Senate Intelligence Committee is set to vote later Tuesday on whether to confirm John Brennan as the next CIA director.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., had publicly called on the Obama administration last month to release documents to the intelligence panel. The opinions set out the legal basis for targeting American citizens who have been identified as dangerous terrorists operating overseas for drone strikes.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday that the White House also has provided more internal correspondence on the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans last September, to interested lawmakers. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., had been threatening to hold up Brennan's confirmation if the administration did not turn over more documents.

Feinstein said the release of the legal opinions should help ease confirmation for Brennan.

"I have reached an agreement with the White House to provide the committee access to all OLC opinions related to the targeted killing of Americans in a way that allows members to fulfill their oversight responsibilities," Feinstein said in a statement. "I am pleased the administration has made this information available. It is important for the committee to do its work and will pave the way for the confirmation of John Brennan to be CIA director."

The most notable American citizen killed in a target strike is Anwar al-Awlaki, the U.S. born cleric and al-Qaeda leader operating in Yemen. He was killed in a drone strike in Yemen in September 2011.

Lawmakers on the panel have been pressing since 2010 for access to the opinions. Last month, Feinstein said that the panel was allowed to view two of the legal opinions but was still looking for access to the rest of the legal memos.

"We have worked with them to meet their concerns in what the president believes is a unique situation and, in doing so, help expedite confirmation," Carney said. "The issue here should be - as it should be with every nominee- the qualification of the nominee. On the merits, John Brennan is a uniquely and highly qualified nominee."

The American Civil Liberties Union, a vocal critic of the drone program, called the decision a win for congressional oversight.

"This is an important first baby step toward restoring the checks and balances between Congress and the president, but it isn't enough," said Christopher Anders, ACLU's senior legislative counsel. "Amazingly, the Obama administration continues to hide at least some of its legal opinions, even from the intelligence committees."