WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Monday in response to a White House letter purporting to identify sufficient constitutional authority for Friday night’s attack on Syria.

“No President of the United States, no matter party or political ideology, has the authority to unilaterally start a war. While the president has the authority under the War Powers Act to respond when the U.S. is under attack or in imminent danger, such circumstances did not exist with regard to Syria. Promoting regional stability, mitigating humanitarian catastrophe, and deterring the use of chemical weapons might be important foreign policy goals, but if they are to be pursued with military force, a president must first seek congressional authorization.”