America's spy program

CIA Admits It Spied on Senate Intel Panel

Director Apologizes for Lying to Committee

Anti war,

31 July, 2014

After long-standing denials, the CIA has finally admitted that its personnel “improperly accessed” computers belonging to the Senate Intelligence Committee to spy on the details of a report they were compiling on the CIA’s use of torture.

Improperly accessed in this case means illegally hacked, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D – CA) dubbed the spying a violation of the “understanding” the committee had with the CIA as well as a violation of constitutional separation of powers.

Other Senators concurred, with Saxby Chambliss (R – GA) calling it a “very, very serious” matter and several urging the ouster of CIA Director John Brennan.

Brennan, who publicly denied that any such spying took place as recently as March,has now issued an apology to the committee for “misleading” them on the issue.

The Justice Department, as always, is shrugging off the news of Executive Branch power abuse, insisting they would not conduct any criminal investigation over the matter. The White House likewise dismissed the story, praising Brennan for his “instrumental role” in the global war on terror.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D – CA) refused to publicly criticize the CIA for spying on Congress for fear of retaliation, noting they “really come after you” if you talk about them in public adding “there’s a price to pay.”