The Justice Department has launched an investigation into the recent leak which helped reveal the existence of the domestic spying program run by the National Security Agency. The surveillance was done without acquiring court authorization as required by law.
The story was broken by 'The New York Times' on December 16. Members of Congress from both parties have denied authorizing the domestic wire taps although the Bush administration claims Congress did approve of the program and that it is legal. The president also claims the program is essential for security purposes.
CNN quoted an anonymous official inside the Justice Department as saying, 'The Justice Department has opened an investigation of the unauthorized disclosure of classified information related to the NSA.'
Attorneys for several detainees held as suspected terrorists indicated that they plan to file motions in court questioning the legality of the NSA surveillance project. They will ask that any evidence acquired from the program be ruled inadmissible in court because it was illegally obtained.
Ironically, the Bush administration was in no hurry to investigate the leak of the identity of a covert CIA operative to members of the press. The operative, Valerie Plame, was forced to retire this year as a result of the leak. Vice President Cheney's top advisor, I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby was indicted in the resulting scandal and resigned. President Bush's top advisor, Karl Rove, remains under investigation.
