BUSH ACTS WITHOUT BRIEFING OR APPORVAL OF CONGRESS
Randy L. Harrington
July 09, 2006
WASHINGTON—House Intelligence Committee Chairman Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.) said that Bush briefed lawmakers on intelligence programs only after he angrily complained of not being briefed.
Hoekstra told Fox News Sunday that Bush didn't brief Congress on an unidentified intelligence program that they discovered by accident. He declined to identify the program, but said that it was significant enough that the administration should have briefed him and others on his committee voluntarily, instead of waiting for them to learn about the program through other government employees.
Hoekstra told Fox News Sunday that “There was at least one major—what I consider significant—activity that we had not been briefed on that we have now been briefed on." Hoekstra went on to say that “Some people within the intelligence community brought to my attention some programs that they are believed we had not been briefed on. They were right.”
Hoekstra maintains that Bush provided briefings only after he complained in a May 18 letter to the President of hearing about the “alleged Intelligence Community activities” that were not disclosed to his committee members. “If these allegations are true they may represent a breach of responsibility by the Administration, a violation of federal law and...a direct affront to me and the Members of this committee” said Hoekstra's letter to Bush.
Hoekstra still believes that the Bush administration falls short of its legal obligations to provide a briefing to key congressional members on intelligence programs.
Democrats and civil liberty organizations have alleged that Bush ignores laws pertaining to due process, as well as congressional notification with respect to intelligence, and surveillance programs in the name of the war on terror. Senator Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), the Senate Judiciary committee Chairman has been questioning Bush's tactics, due process violations, and acting without briefing, or consulting Congress.
Rep Jane Harman (D-Cal.) the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence committee said that “vigorous congressional oversight is impossible unless the administration shares critical information with the appropriate committees of Congress.” Hoekstra was not specific about intelligence programs, and would not release further details about which programs he was referring to. However, there have been recent questions about Bush's intelligence programs involving warrantless domestic wiretaps, extensive gathering of telephone records, and the monitoring of international banking transactions.
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: FOX NEWS SUNDAY
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Hoekstra told Fox News Sunday that Bush didn't brief Congress on an unidentified intelligence program that they discovered by accident. He declined to identify the program, but said that it was significant enough that the administration should have briefed him and others on his committee voluntarily, instead of waiting for them to learn about the program through other government employees.
Hoekstra told Fox News Sunday that “There was at least one major—what I consider significant—activity that we had not been briefed on that we have now been briefed on." Hoekstra went on to say that “Some people within the intelligence community brought to my attention some programs that they are believed we had not been briefed on. They were right.”
Hoekstra maintains that Bush provided briefings only after he complained in a May 18 letter to the President of hearing about the “alleged Intelligence Community activities” that were not disclosed to his committee members. “If these allegations are true they may represent a breach of responsibility by the Administration, a violation of federal law and...a direct affront to me and the Members of this committee” said Hoekstra's letter to Bush.
Hoekstra still believes that the Bush administration falls short of its legal obligations to provide a briefing to key congressional members on intelligence programs.
Democrats and civil liberty organizations have alleged that Bush ignores laws pertaining to due process, as well as congressional notification with respect to intelligence, and surveillance programs in the name of the war on terror. Senator Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), the Senate Judiciary committee Chairman has been questioning Bush's tactics, due process violations, and acting without briefing, or consulting Congress.
Rep Jane Harman (D-Cal.) the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence committee said that “vigorous congressional oversight is impossible unless the administration shares critical information with the appropriate committees of Congress.” Hoekstra was not specific about intelligence programs, and would not release further details about which programs he was referring to. However, there have been recent questions about Bush's intelligence programs involving warrantless domestic wiretaps, extensive gathering of telephone records, and the monitoring of international banking transactions.
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: FOX NEWS SUNDAY
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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