Patrick Leahy is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“The patience of the American people is beginning to wear thin. But what has to be of more concern in a democracy is, the trust of the American people is wearing thin.”
On Wednesday, the administration released what once were secret documents about the government’s collection of telephone records. Deputy Attorney General James Cole spoke to the Senate committee.
“These are telephone records maintained by the phone companies. They include the number the call was dialed from, the number the call was dialed to, the date and time of the call and the length of the call. The records do not include the names or other personal identifying information. They do not include cell site or other location information, and they do not include the content of any phone calls.”
The government must have special court approval to get names or addresses linked to phone numbers. It also needs a court order to listen to phone calls.
Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse questioned the lack of voluntary public disclosure by the government.
“We have a lot of good information out there that helps the American public understand these programs. But it all came out late. It all came out in response to a leaker [Edward Snowden]. There was no organized plan for how we rationally declassify this, so that the American people can participate in the debate.”
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25