NSA Leak Investigation Hits Capitol Hill

Strata-Sphere ^ | 7-24-06 | AJ Strata

[STARWISE]

Finally some reports are coming out regarding the NSA leak investigation and their prime target for the leaks: Capitol Hill. Jay Rockefeller, who was interviewed for the NY Times story which exposed our efforts to identify terrorists here in the US ready to attack us, is probably on the interview list.

From the sounds of the reporting it does not appear to be a pleasant exercise for these all powerful men and women in Congress:

There are also indications from at least one Senator, Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), that the FBI is asking Members about comments of theirs that appeared in other publications regarding the NSA program.

The interviews, which came about after extensive negotiations this spring between the Justice Department and the counsels for the House and Senate, are taking place in Members’ Congressional offices, usually with two FBI agents and one Justice Department lawyer in attendance. Members are also permitted to have a House or Senate counsel on hand if they wished.

Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), House Intelligence Chairman Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) have already been interviewed. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) is expected to be interviewed soon.

I hope Roll Call, which has the full story behind a subscription barrier, will see fit to publicize their full reporting. Either way, this is good news that the leaks are being taken seriously and serious measures are being invoked.

[STARWISE]

Could be a bumpy ride .. just don't trust the deals the politicos will make amongst themselves.

[Freedom is eternally right]

Interesting that the headline for this article says 15 members are being investigated, while a June 30th story run in USA Today says that "19 lawmakers" were briefed. If we go by the USA Today story, the Senate defense appropriation subcommittee was briefed, which means the House defense appropriation subcommittee would also have been briefed. So add Ted Stevens, Daniel Inouye, Bill Young, FL , and (okay hold on to your seat) John P. Murtha. (Still missing one person, need to check out chair and ranking members from 2001 to 2003) USA Today Story