A conflict with congressional oaths?

[kentuck]

When a Congressman takes his oath to office, he is sworn to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States".

But when he/she is briefed on intelligence matters, he/she is sworn to secrecy and silence. What if they feel this is in violation of the US Constitution (4th Amendment)?

If they feel uncomfortable with the information they are given, which oath should he/she keep?

[Downwinder]

1. The same question the whistle blower faces.

[xiamiam]

2. the constitution..nt

[magellan]

3. Ask Dick Durbin

Wiki: On April 25, 2007, Durbin said that as an intelligence committee member he knew in 2002 from classified information that the American people were being misled by the Bush Administration into a war on Iraq, but he could not reveal this because, as an intelligence committee member, he was sworn to secrecy.

[el_bryanto]

4. This really is an interesting question

Could make a great drama. I think just swearing to be secretive about intelligence matters is one thing - if they aren't willing to do that they maybe shouldn't be congressmen - but if they are apprised of something that clearly violates the 4th amendment (as the PRISM Program may) - than surely their oath to the Constitution would prevail.

They would be essentially quitting though - and lots of people in all walks of life have a hard time quitting over principle.

Bryant