CIA Director John Brennan told NBC News' Andrea Mitchell that the agency did not snoop on Senate Intelligence Committee computers to thwart an investigation into illegal detention and interrogations under President Bush.
"We weren't trying to block anything," Brennan said.The matter is being dealt with in an appropriate way," he added. "The CIA was no way way spying on [the committee] or the Senate."
The Tuesday interview was Brennan's first since the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee charged that the CIA had searched the panel's computers, possibly violating the law.
"The CIA just went and searched the committee's computers," California Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein said in a lengthy speech on the Senate floor, calling the the matter a "defining moment" for the oversight of the Intelligence Committee.
"I have grave concerns that the CIA's search may well have violated the separation of powers principles embodied by the United States Constitution, including the speech and debate clause," she said.
"It may have undermined the Constitutional framework essential to effective congressional oversight of intelligence activity or any other government function."
Feinstein added that the search may also have violated the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and an executive order that prohibits the CIA from conducting domestic searches or surveillance.
She said she has asked for an apology and an acknowledgment that the CIA's actions were wrong but that "I have received neither."
In an address to the Council on Foreign Relations after the interview with Mitchell, Brennan noted that he took the oath while holding a copy of the Constitution because he believes there is “no higher duty” than upholding the rule of law.
“I along with my CIA colleagues first believe in not only the Constitution but also the Bill of Rights as well as all subsequent amendments to our constitution.”
First published March 11 2014, 8:16 AM
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