The House Oversight Committee sent a letter to the National Security Agency on Wednesday asking for information about its reported policy of eavesdropping on phone calls between Israeli government officials and members of Congress, as well as why the federal agency forwarded these records to the White House.
“These reports raise questions concerning the processes NSA employees follow in determining whether intercepted communications involved members of Congress, and the latitude agency employees have in screening communications with members of Congress for further dissemination within the Executive Branch,” wrote Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz and National Security Subcommittee Chairman Ron DeSantis.
Committee members have requested copies of all guidance, including formal and informal policies and procedures, for determining if phone data involves a House member or senator. The letter also asks for conditions by which NSA would share intelligence with another government official, employee or agent, in this case, senior officials in the Obama administration.
It was written about a day after it was reported that the NSA continued to spy on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in order to learn what Israel was doing to oppose the Iran nuclear agreement.
NSA Director Michael Rogers has until Jan. 13 to respond to the letter. The committee also requested an in-person briefing by Jan. 15.
The House Intelligence Committee also said Wednesday it would investigate the allegations.
Letter to the NSA on intercepted communications between Israeli officials & congress. https://t.co/kpX8axySZF pic.twitter.com/7sVTk8s38b
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) December 30, 2015
