Head of Senate Panel Calls for Hearing on Wiretaps

[BlueJessamine]

Source: The New York Times

WASHINGTON — The head of the Senate intelligence committee said Thursday that she would hold a hearing to examine the National Security Agency’s interception of domestic communications after new reports that recent wiretapping went beyond what Congress has authorized.

“These are serious allegations, and we will make sure we get the facts,” said Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat who leads the Senate intelligence committee. “The committee is looking into this, and we will hold a hearing on this subject within one month.”

The New York Times reported in Thursday’s editions that the N.S.A. had intercepted private e-mail messages and phone calls of Americans in recent months on a scale that went beyond the broad legal limits established by Congress last year, citing interviews with government officials. The agency also sought in 2005 or 2006 to wiretap an unidentified congressman as part of a foreign intelligence operation, The Times said.

Senator Russ Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat who has been active in overseeing intelligence issues, said Thursday that the report of wiretapping problems was part of “a tragic retreat from the principles that had governed the sensitive area of government surveillance for the previous three decades.”



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/us/17nsa.html?hp

[lisa58]

1. finally - and good

[Wizard777]

2. We cannot trust our government with enhanced surveillance of the bad guys.

If there are no repercussions for spying on the good guys or otherwise average Americans. This isn't about the government assuming power. This is about America trusting the government with that power they are assuming.

[harmonicon]

3. does anyone actually think something will be done about this anymore?

No fucking way. Congress is a total joke.