Court to monitor Bush eavesdropping program

By Marisa Taylor and Greg Gordon

McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - In a major retreat, the Bush administration disclosed Wednesday that it has obtained approval for its domestic spying program from a special national security court and no longer will resort to warrantless telephone taps to search for terrorists.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales revealed the secret arrangement with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court on the eve of his first appearance before the Democratic-controlled Congress and amid an appeals court fight over a federal judge's ruling striking down the spying program as illegal and unconstitutional.