Sunday, March 16, 2014

"Treason" At The CIA?


Gary L. Bauer
VISIT AMERICAN VALUES

Friday, March 14, 2014

The continuing battle between Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein and the Central Intelligence Agency has D.C. buzzing. On Tuesday, Feinstein, chairman on the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, accused the spy agency of secretly probing the committee's computers and taking documents related to the CIA's interrogation methods on suspected terrorists.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa went ballistic yesterday, saying that the CIA's actions, if they occurred, amount to "treason" because they would be an attack on the separation of powers. Issa said:

"Spying on the executive branch-spying on Congress or violating the separation of powers as to the Supreme Court or as to Congress is effectively treason. Treason- it's written up in the Constitution. I don't know who gave the orders, but to spy on other branches is in fact a constitutional violation at the level of high crimes and misdemeanors and certainly should cause the removal of anyone involved."

I admire Issa's tenacity. But I'd point out that the Obama administration attacks the separation of powers almost daily. All members of Congress should be just as concerned with the president's taking over of the legislative process from Congress.