Rep. Harman: White House Never Sought Approval For ‘Other Intelligence Activities’

[Hissyspit]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/25/harman-intel-activities

Rep. Harman: White House Never Sought Approval For ‘Other Intelligence Activities’

In his testimony yesterday, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales claimed that when James Comey raised objections to the administration’s spying program, he was referring to “other intelligence activities,” not the warrantless wiretapping program that Bush has confirmed.

- snip -

Today, Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), a former member of the so-called “Gang of Eight” who was briefing by the White House on the program, announced she too was unaware of other intelligence activities:

Two Members of Congress who were part of the Gang of Eight said if Gonzales approached Ashcroft about something that had been part of their discussions, it could only have been the terrorist surveillance program, whose existence the president confirmed in December. “That doesn’t make any sense to me,” Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) said of Gonzales’ testimony. She said the TSP was “the only program we were ever briefed about.”

- snip -

Similarly, Senate Intelligence Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said there was only one program that the Gang of Eight was briefed on, and it was the program the president already has confirmed. Plus, both Harman and Rockefeller said the Congressional briefings were limited in scope. “We were briefed on the operational details — period — not the legal underpinnings,” Harman said.

Harman and Rockefeller claim that the only program they were told about was the NSA domestic surveillance program. But yet, in his testimony before Congress yesterday, Gonzales claimed that when he rushed to John Ashcroft’s bedside in 2004, he was seeking authorization for a separate intelligence activity — a program that Gonzales claims had the “consensus” approval of the bi-partisan “Gang of Eight.” Harman and Rockefeller are reporting that they never consented to “other intelligence activities.”

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[babylonsister]

1. Pelosi and Daschle agree; I hope the other 4 weigh in. nt

[aquart]

4. Were the other 4 Republicans?

Did they brief ONLY the Republicans?

[babylonsister]

7. See #3 response; they were equally divided. nt

[aquart]

2. I know the ass thinks he's bulletproof, but why such a STUPID lie?

I mean, THAT's contemptuous.

[jtrockville]

3. I missed it - who is in the "Gang of Eight"?

Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA)
Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.)

and ???

[originalpckelly]

5. The following comprised the "Gang of Eight"

1. Minority and Majority leaders in the House and the Senate. <--4 people
2. Chairpersons and ranking members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. <--4 people

[Old and In the Way]

6. Daschale and Pelosi

All 4 have denied Gonzales's contention that they were brief and part of the coalition wanting DoJ approval.

Republicans were: Hastert, Frist, Roberts, and Goss. I suspect that they will corroborate AG's version...but if 1 of 4 doesn't, I'd say that was might, mighty damaging to this administration and Congressional Republicans in general.

[SpiralHawk]

8. I expect the republicons to lie. Out of character for them to do anything else

republicons have demonstrated repeatedly that they lack integrity and honor.

[jtrockville]

13. Thanks. I agree they'll lie. What's the downside for them?

[driver8]

9. But who's on first?

Jesus...watching Gonzo testify is like watching a bad Abbott and Costello movie.

Is anyone else worried that the "Attorney General" doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground?

[Supersedeas]

10. the MSM cookie cutter--make consumers feel good so they buy stuff Media

is not even out of the batter's box...not even out of the dug out...not even in the stadium...they are still scalping tickets to the Lohan tee-ball game when the mainevent is taking place under their noses.

[Old and In the Way]

11. Incompetence by Design

A trademarked attribute of this administration.

[Inuca]

12. Remember the 2nd round of Schumer questions?

He was trying to have G answer a clear yes/no on whether the discussion was about the surveillance program. He kept giving a canned answer, I do not remember it exactly, something to do with "other intelligence activities". Pressed by Schumer repeatedly to acknowledge that "other activities" means it was NOT the surveillance program, G kept repeating the same mantra, and NEVER said neither yes or no. I have no idea what exactly this means, but I am sure of two things, one that obviously it WAS about the surveillance program, and two that he left himself a legal opening to avoid, or at least hope to avoid, perjury.

[mmonk]

14. Why say something now when it's too late?