U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker, R-Tupelo, says President Bush acted on the best possible legal advice and was within the law when he began ordering domestic anti-terror spying by the National Security Agency after Sept. 11, 2001.
Wicker, an 11-year member of the House, said Bush fully explained his reasons in Sunday night's televised address to the nation.
Some lawmakers in both parties have criticized the spying order and say Bush acted outside the Constitution.
"I applaud the president," Wicker said.
Wicker said appropriate oversight committees in both houses of Congress were apprised of the action when it was taken.
"This has been done on a very limited basis. It reflects the reality we are in in a very difficult kind of war," he said.
The surveillance was disclosed Friday by The New York Times.
The newspaper, Wicker said, should not have published the story.
"I have to wonder why they chose to do it so soon after the elections in Iraq," Wicker said. "I am glad the president went ahead and made clear what his motivations were."
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