Washington (CNN) - Amid new controversy over his administration's targeted killing of American citizens, President Barack Obama has yielded to demands from Congress to turn over to them classified Justice Department legal advice justifying the policy.
The president's move comes on the eve of confirmation hearings Thursday for his CIA director-nominee John Brennan, and complaints from senators - including several Democrats - about secrecy surrounding the drone policy.
An administration official who spoke on the condition of not being named said, "Today, as part of the President's ongoing commitment to consult with Congress on national security matters, the president directed the department of justice to provide the congressional intelligence committees access to classified office of legal counsel advice related to the subject of the department of justice white paper."
The president, the administration official said, is turning over the information because he believes the scrutiny and debate is healthy.
