HJC Calls Bull on SSCI’s Conclusions
By: emptywheel Thursday March 13, 2008 6:21 am
The Democrats on HJC have been doing their homework while the Republicans have been fear-mongering. They've read the documents related to the illegal wiretapping program, held secret hearings with the telecom companies, and called bull on several of the conclusions formed by SSCI. Not surprisingly, this letter justifies the FISA alternative which will come up for a vote later this afternoon.
The letter reveals the timing of the hearings with the telecom companies--but does not reveal whether the Republicans deigned to attend.
In recent weeks, Judiciary Committee members have received classified briefings from intelligence and Justice Department officials on the Administration’s warrantless surveillance program; we have been provided access to the same classified documents on the program that were provided months ago to the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary Committees (and, more recently, to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence); and
the Committee has conducted lengthy and extensive classified hearings on February 28 and March 5 to hear testimony from telecom and Administration officials. A key focus of that effort was the issue of retroactive immunity for phone companies that participated in the warrantless surveillance program.
.............
The case for blanket retroactive immunity would be stronger if the various carriers had taken consistent actions in response to requests from the Administration. That is not what we found.
Without revealing any specific details, we found a variety of actions at various times with differing justifications in response to Administration requests.................
In addition, our review of classified information has reinforced serious concerns about the potential illegality of the Administration’s actions in authorizing and carrying out its warrantless surveillance program. We, therefore, recommend the creation of a bipartisan commission to conduct hearings and take other evidence to fully examine that program. Like the 9/11 Commission, it would make findings and recommendations in both classified and unclassified reports and thus inform and educate the American people on this troubling subject.
http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?p=1204more at:
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/03/13/hjc-calls-bull-on-sscis-conclusion/****************
FISA Vote Likely Today In House
By: Christy Hardin Smith Thursday March 13, 2008 6:18 am
This is not, nor has it ever been, about providing protection for the telecom companies. This has always been an effort to keep the American public from knowing what illegal overreaches the Bush Administration has been involved in all along, since well before 9/11. The sole thing that is preventing the telecom carriers from fully litigating their case in court is the Bush Administration assertion of state secrets to keep the public from knowing just how far they have taken this domestic spying. It's a CYA shell game...again and again. http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/13/fisa-vote-likely-today-in-house/#comments
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