Sen. Levin: “We Need An Explanation, We Need It Fast,” “What Are The Statutes?”…

MR. RUSSERT: You said the president acted above the law. Do you believe the president of the United States broke the law?

SEN. LEVIN: If he did not follow the FISA law, then I believe he would have broken the law. But I don't want to prejudge whether the president broke the law. We need an explanation, we need it fast. The American public is entitled to the protections of the law.

The president claims to have followed the law here. He says he acted on behalf of American security. OK. If that's his motive, that's what he claims his motive is. Others will justify that. History will justify or not justify that. But he claims that he abided by the laws and Constitution of the United States but he avoided going to the court which the laws require him to go to either before or immediately afterwards, and if he's claiming to be law-abiding and to abide by statutes, which he is, what are the statutes? The attorney general must inform us promptly. The president owes that to the American people.

Read the full transcript here.