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Home Front: WoT
Yea.... US probes eavesdropping leak
2005-12-30
Finally announced. Thought the silence about this meant there was lots of discussions going on. I'm betting 10 bucks Bush demanded it. And usual Reuter's bias

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department has launched an investigation to determine who disclosed a secret NSA eavesdropping operation approved by President George W. Bush after the September 11 attacks, officials said on Friday.

"We are opening an investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of classified materials related to the NSA," one official said.

Earlier this month Bush acknowledged the program and called its disclosure to The New York Times () "a shameful act." He said he presumed a Justice Department leak investigation into who disclosed the National Security Agency eavesdropping operation would get under way.

Justice Department officials would give no details of who requested the probe or how it would be conducted.

The disclosure of the covert domestic spying program has triggered concerns among both Democrats and Republicans, with many lawmakers questioning whether it violates the U.S. Constitution.

Several lawmakers have backed a planned hearing on the issue by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, a Republican from Pennsylvania.

Bush and senior administration officials have argued that the policy of authorizing -- without court orders -- eavesdropping on international phone calls and e-mails by Americans suspected of links to terrorism was legal and necessary to help defend the country after the September 11 attacks.

The White house has sought to play down the impact on civil liberties, saying the program was narrow in scope and that key congressional leaders were briefed about it.
Posted by:Sherry

#11  *cough* Rockefeller *cough*
Posted by: Frank G   2005-12-30 20:02  

#10  I wonder if they will find a Judge and a couple of congressmen at fault. hmmmm....
Posted by: newc   2005-12-30 16:35  

#9  They should get the Warrants and Subpoenas for the investigation from the FISA court itself. Just so it's all on the up-and-up.... I mean, since everyone agrees that the FISA court is so error free and all....
Posted by: Mark E.   2005-12-30 16:14  

#8  "I hope it leads to some lawyers getting it in the butt during their stay in jail for contempt for protecting their secret source."

I know some lawyers. They advise the folks who go to jail for not revealing their sources. No lawyer ever went to jail for not talking.
Posted by: Hank   2005-12-30 15:39  

#7  We need Judge Roy Bean!
Posted by: mjslack   2005-12-30 13:51  

#6  I take that back - I hope its Nancy Pelosi and Murtha that get bagged.
Posted by: Oldspook   2005-12-30 12:42  

#5  Democrat? Nah, I hope its Lincoln Chaffee or Arlen Spector. Give us a chance to replace them, their RINOs anyway.
Posted by: Oldspook   2005-12-30 12:41  

#4  I hope it leads to some lawyers getting it in the butt during their stay in jail for contempt for protecting their secret source. That will reduce the incidence of the press "doing it's job" by passing on classified information leaked by some one else.

I hope the some one else gets it too when they get sentenced.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2005-12-30 12:26  

#3  I don’t want to sound like one of those yahoos in the fever swamp but I really hope this leads to a prominent Dhimicrat Senator or House member. Also I hope the news comes out around September so as to affect that parties chances. I wonder if the MSM will give the same amount of coverage they gave to the non-stories of Plame an Delay?
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2005-12-30 11:59  

#2  More info from Fox:

Officials have confirmed to FOX News that the FBI is involved in the investigation, but did not comment on whether other agencies were involved, when the investigation began or whether the referral for the probe came from the National Security Agency itself.

The White House is expected to comment further on the investigation at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Posted by: Sherry   2005-12-30 11:20  

#1  "The White house has sought to play down the impact on civil liberties"

THey simply cannot let anything go by without a poolitical dig.
Posted by: Oldspook   2005-12-30 11:20  

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