In a letter dated May 22 , 2013 , to the chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary committee , Patrick J. Leahy , U.S. attorney general Eric Holder wrote that high-level U.S. government officials ... concluded that al-Aulaqi posed a continuing and imminent threat of violent attack against the United States . Before carrying out the operation that killed al-Aulaqi , senior officials also determined , based on a careful evaluation of the circumstances at the time , that it was not feasible to capture al-Aulaqi . In addition , senior officials determined that the operation would be conducted consistent with applicable law of war principles , including the cardinal principles of ( 1 ) necessity – the requirement that the target have definite military value ; ( 2 ) distinction – the idea that only military objectives may be intentionally targeted and that civilians are protected from being intentionally targeted ; ( 3 ) proportionality – the notion that the anticipated collateral damage of an action can not be excessive in relation to the anticipated concrete and direct military advantage ; and ( 4 ) humanity – a principle that requires us to use weapons that will not inflict unnecessary suffering . The operation was also undertaken consistent with Yemeni sovereignty . ... The decision to target Anwar al-Aulaqi was lawful , it was considered , and it was just . On April 21 , 2014 , the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that the Obama administration must release documents justifying its drone killings of foreigners and Americans , including Anwar al-Awlaki . In June 2014 , the United States Department of Justice disclosed a 2010 memorandum written by the acting head of the department 's Office of Legal Counsel , David Barron . The memo stated that Anwar al-Awlaki was a significant threat with an infeasible probability of capture . Barron therefore justified the killing as legal , as " the Constitution would not require the government to provide further process " . '' The New York Times '' Editorial Board dismissed the memo 's rationale for al-Awlaki 's killing , saying it " provides little confidence that the lethal action was taken with real care " , instead describing it as " a slapdash pastiche of legal theories — some based on obscure interpretations of British and Israeli law — that was clearly tailored to the desired result . " A lawyer for the ACLU described the memo as " disturbing " and " ultimately an argument that the president can order targeted killings of Americans without ever having to account to anyone outside the executive branch . " Awlaki 's videos and writings remain highly popular on the internet , where they continue to be readily accessible . Even following his death , Awlaki has continued to inspire his devotees to carry out terrorist attacks , including the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing , the 2015 San Bernardino attack , and the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting . According to the Counter Extremism Project ( CEP ) , 88 " extremists , " 54 in the U.S. and 34 in Europe , have been influenced by Awlaki . Because " his work has inspired countless plots and attacks , " CEP has " called on YouTube and other platforms to permanently ban Mr. Awlaki ’s material , including his early , mainstream lectures . " During the FBI investigation of the 9/11 attacks , it was discovered that a few of the attackers had attended the mosques in San Diego and Falls Church with which al-Awlaki was associated . Interviews with members of the San Diego mosque showed that Nawaz al-Hazmi , one of the attackers , may have had a private conversation with him . On that basis he was placed under 24-hour surveillance . It was discovered that he regularly patronized prostitutes . It was through FBI interrogation of prostitutes and escort service operators that al-Awlaki was tipped off in 2002 about FBI surveillance . Shortly thereafter , he left the United States
2015 San Bernardino attack
2015 San Bernardino attack
Anwar al-Awlaki