July 27, 2007

Mueller Contradicts Gonzales Over Spy Program

FBI Director Robert Mueller, in testimony yesterday before the House Judiciary Committee, contradicted statements by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales that there was no internal dispute within the administration about the legality of a warrantless eavedropping program.

The dispute revolves around a late-night visit in 2004 that Gonzales, as a White House counsel, and former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card made to then-Attorney General John Ashcroft's hospital room, supposedly in an attempt to persuade Ashcroft to sign off on the terrorist surveillance program. The ailing Ashcroft refused because of concerns about its legality, according to testimony by former Deputy Attorney General James Comey.

Gonzales told the Senate Judiciary Committee this week that the visit was not related to the wiretapping program and there was no disagreement within the administration about it.

Mueller strongly suggested otherwise when asked about the meeting by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas.

"Did you have an understanding that the discussion was on TSP?" she asked. "I had an understanding the discussion was on a NSA program, yes," Mueller replied.

"We use 'TSP,' we use 'warrantless wiretapping,' so would I be comfortable in saying that those were the items that were part of the discussion?" Jackson Lee asked. "The discussion was on a national NSA program that has been much discussed, yes," Mueller said.

The National Security Agency ran the program that eavesdropped on terror suspects in the United States, without court approval, until last January, when the program was put under the authority of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

-CongressDaily staff

Posted at 10:29 AM
Posted to: Alberto Gonzales, Bush Administration, James Comey, John Ashcroft, Robert Mueller, Senate
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