Introduction

Reuters

A Justice Department white paper, obtained by NBC News, states that it is lawful to kill a United States citizen if “an informed, high-level” government official decides that the target is a ranking Al Qaeda figure who poses “an imminent threat of violent attack against the United States.”

What standards must be met for the government to assassinate an American citizen? And does this deprive U.S. citizens of their constitutionally protected due process rights?