Senate Democrats are openly accusing the White House of ordering the CIA to spy on Congress during a Senate Intelligence Committee investigation.
As Rachel Maddow so aptly put it, this is “death of the Republic stuff.” The congressional committee tasked with overseeing the executive branch and our intelligence agencies is being spied upon and their investigations “interfered” with, and it’s coming straight from the White House, according to top Senate Democrat and Intelligence Committee chairwoman Dianne Feinstein...
Say, I wonder if Feinstein is funded by the Koch brothers?
The Washington Post described Feinstein's tirade, but omitted some key facets of the story.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said that the situation amounted to attempted intimidation of congressional investigators, adding: “I am not taking it lightly.”
She confirmed that an internal agency investigation of the action has been referred to the Justice Department for possible criminal prosecution. And she said that the CIA appears to have violated the Fourth Amendment, which bars unreasonable searches and seizures, as well as various federal laws and a presidential executive order that prevents the agency from conducting domestic searches and surveillance.
She has sought an apology and recognition that the CIA search of the committee’s computers was inappropriate, she said. “I have received neither,” she added.
MSNBC's Adam Serwer added the information the Post was unwilling to mention:
Feinstein says WH ordered CIA "interference" with Senate investigation, WH denied they ordered removal of docs provided to committee.
— AdamSerwer (@AdamSerwer) March 11, 2014In May of 2010, the committee staff noticed that [certain] documents that had been provided for the committee’s review were no longer accessible. Staff approached the CIA personnel at the offsite location, who initially denied that documents had been removed. CIA personnel then blamed information technology personnel, who were almost all contractors, for removing the documents themselves without direction or authority. And then the CIA stated that the removal of the documents was ordered by the White House. When the committee approached the White House, the White House denied giving the CIA any such order...
...When the Internal Panetta Review documents disappeared from the committee’s computer system, this suggested once again that the CIA had removed documents already provided to the committee, in violation of CIA agreements and White House assurances that the CIA would cease such activities...
... I have grave concerns that the CIA’s search may well have violated the separation of powers principles embodied in the United States Constitution, including the Speech and Debate clause. It may have undermined the constitutional framework essential to effective congressional oversight of intelligence activities or any other government function.
Oh, now they're worried about the Constitution.
Welcome to the party, pals.
Hat tip: BadBlue News
Wake up and smell the stench, Senator!!
ReplyDeleteSucks when it's YOUR rights, huh bitch. You've been trampling peoples rights for years and now you scream about the Constitution and rights? FOAD.
ReplyDelete@Robert Fowler:
ReplyDeleteSpot on!
Did these bootlickers thought they'd be exempt from the corruption of their pal in the white house?
NOW will you impeach???
ReplyDeleteWhat will it take for Obama and Holder to be impeached? WHAT? I am so sick of the spineless politicians we have stinking up D.C. with their milquetoast mentality - it's INFURIATING. Impeach this horrible, lying, lawbreaking, mentally unstable president and get our beloved country, AMERICA, back on track. For once in your lily-livered lives, do what is RIGHT FOR AMERICA. Thumb your noses at Obama's media like they have been thumbing their noses at conservatives like Ted Cruz, etc. DO YOUR JOB. IMPEACH OBAMA NOW.
ReplyDeleteExcuse me? Feinstein DID NOT accuse the Obama White House of ordering the CIA to spy on Congress. I notice you haven't provided the statement where she supposedly does so. As with much of the blather on the right, you're just making this up.
ReplyDeleteSo Senator what are you going to do about it? Ask for another apology? That's BS. Rid this nation of this travesty. Your position demands it.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete"SEN. FEINSTEIN (D-CA): Obama White House Ordered CIA to Spy on Congress, an Impeachable Offense"
Do you people unquestioningly believe everything bouncing around inside the the right wing echo chamber? Turn your brains back on.
Feinstein didn't say this! Feinstein didn't suggest this!
Hey, progressive, anti-American drones: here's the paste directly from Feinstein's website. I've bolded the parts that are too difficult for you to understand:
ReplyDeleteIn May of 2010, the committee staff noticed that [certain] documents that had been provided for the committee’s review were no longer accessible. Staff approached the CIA personnel at the offsite location, who initially denied that documents had been removed. CIA personnel then blamed information technology personnel, who were almost all contractors, for removing the documents themselves without direction or authority. And then the CIA stated that the removal of the documents was ordered by the White House. When the committee approached the White House, the White House denied giving the CIA any such order...
...When the Internal Panetta Review documents disappeared from the committee’s computer system, this suggested once again that the CIA had removed documents already provided to the committee, in violation of CIA agreements and White House assurances that the CIA would cease such activities...
... I have grave concerns that the CIA’s search may well have violated the separation of powers principles embodied in the United States Constitution, including the Speech and Debate clause. It may have undermined the constitutional framework essential to effective congressional oversight of intelligence activities or any other government function..."
That is a high crime and misdemeanor, young schmucklings, and she is describing an impeachable offense.
No begone, miscreants.
"Staff approached the CIA personnel at the offsite location, who initially denied that documents had been removed. CIA personnel then blamed information technology personnel, who were almost all contractors, for removing the documents themselves without direction or authority. And then the CIA stated that the removal of the documents was ordered by the White House."
ReplyDeleteOh, I see. Three lies were provided, and you've decided that the one you like must be the truth.
"When the committee approached the White House, the White House denied giving the CIA any such order."
That the CIA lied twice is apparent. The White House is saying that they've done so a third time.
"I have grave concerns that the CIA’s search may well have violated the separation of powers principles embodied in the United States Constitution..."
That's not an accusation concerning the Obama White House. It's an accusation concerning the actions of the CIA, which is defying Congress's oversight authority.
Why? Maybe because the guy inside the CIA who has been defying Congressional authority was also deeply involved in actions that are under investigation. If Congress starts pulling on that thread, the entire cover-up of the extrajudicial renditions/black sites/enhanced interrogations program will come unraveled.
What would then be revealed could be uglier than anyone imagines. More than one head would roll if that happened.
I'D PAY TO SEE EVEN ONE~!!!~
ReplyDeleteHHays.
fuck you you wouldn't recognize one if it bit you right in the ass~!!!~