DNI Exposes Broader Spying

Bushies helped kill probe of Dem Harman

(NEWSER) - A wiretap by the National Security Agency caught California Rep. Jane Harman promising a suspected Israeli agent she’d intervene on behalf of two pro-Israeli lobbyists facing espionage charges, sources tell CQ Politics. In exchange, the agent promised to pressure then-minority leader Nancy Pelosi into making Harman chair of the Intelligence Committee. Also, the sources say, Bush administration officials, not “lack of evidence,” stopped an FBI probe of the Democrat. More»

Dems bow to White House on warrantless wiretapping bill, will revisit in 6 months

(NEWSER) - The Senate voted last night to temporarily extend the government's controversial surveillance program, the Washington Post reports. The contentious 60-28 vote, a concession to the White House by Democrats, will allow for the continued interception of electronic communication between Americans and overseas parties without a court order. The measures will be reconsidered in 6 months. More»

Judge halted key overseas eavesdropping months ago

(NEWSER) - In a secret decision earlier this year a federal intelligence court judge ruled that a key element of the White House's massive wiretapping program was illegal, the Washington Post reports. The decision blocked NSA information collection from a large number of phone calls and emails that pass through two locations overseas before being routed through the US. More»

Senate subpoenas; White House balks

(NEWSER) - A showdown on the White House's warantless wiretapping program looms after the Senate Judiciary Committee authorized subpoenas for documents on the progam, and the administration said it had no plans to comply, claiming the material is classified and off limits. The president may invoke executive privilege to prevent the documents' release, Reuters reports. More»

(NEWSER) - The Bush administration's warrantless wiretap program wasn't such a great anti-terror tool after all, says a new federal report. The wiretaps—on the international communication of Americans—"generally played a limited role" in counterterrorism efforts, despite the assertions of President Bush, Dick Cheney, and other top officials that they were essential, the New York Times reports. More»