Senators allege secret CIA program collecting data on Americans, call for declassification
Two Democrat senators are alleging the CIA has a secret data trove that includes information collected about Americans.
In a letter sent to the clandestine agency, the senators allege the CIA has long hidden details about the program from the public and the legislative branch, according to the Associated Press.
Sens. Ron Wyden, of Oregon, and Martin Heinrich, of New Mexico, called for a declassification of the program, though significant parts of their letter, sent in April 2021, were redacted.
The lawmakers say they think the program operated "outside the statutory framework that Congress and the public believe govern this collection."
Though the CIA, the country's top spy operation and the National Security Agency, are typically barred from monitoring U.S. citizens and businesses, the agencies' focus on foreign communications sometimes encapsulates messages and data incidentally belonging to Americans.
The CIA's privacy and civil liberties officer, Kristi Scott, said the agency "recognizes and takes very seriously our obligation to respect the privacy and civil liberties of U.S. persons in the conduct of our vital national security mission. CIA is committed to transparency consistent with our obligation to protect intelligence sources and methods."
https://justthenews.com/government/security/senators-send-letter-cia-revealing-secret-program-collects-data-americans