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CIA Hacking: Agency apologizes for spying on Senate staff
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein alleged in March that the CIA violated federal law by searching computers used by her staff. On Thursday, the Justice Department declined to bring criminal charges against anyone at the CIA or the Senate panel.
The head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Dianne Feinstein says she was right: the Central Intelligence Agency did "inappropriately" search computers used by the Intelligence Committee, violating an agreement with Congress. Feinstein issued a statement today saying CIA director John Brennan had apologized.
The Inspector General of the CIA, David Buckley briefed Feinstein Tuesday on the findings of his internal investigation. Feinstein called the report and apology "positive first steps." But the California Democrat said in her opinion, the snooping was a "violation of the constitutional separation of powers."
The CIA provided the computers to Senate Intelligence Committee staffers in a secure room at its headquarters so they could review millions of pages of top secret documents in the course of their investigation into the CIA's use of torture during the Bush administration. The agency agreed to not monitor the work of committee staffers.
Back in March, Senator Feinstein took to the floor of the Senate, accusing the CIA of violating that agreement. At that time, CIA Director John Brennan denied the charges, saying, "that's just beyond the scope of reason."
A declassified version of the IG's report is expected to be made public soon.
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