Will Congress let NSA whistleblower testify?

[kpete]

Will Congress let NSA whistleblower testify?
by John in DC - 1/05/2006 09:18:00 PM


From the Washington Times, no less

In his Dec. 16 letter, Mr. Tice wrote that his testimony would be given under the provisions of the 1998 Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act, which makes it legal for intelligence officials to disclose wrongdoing without being punished.


Russ Tice, a whistleblower who was dismissed from the NSA last year, stated in letters to the House and Senate intelligence committees that he is prepared to testify about highly classified Special Access Programs, or SAPs, that were improperly carried out by both the NSA and the DIA.


"I intend to report to Congress probable unlawful and unconstitutional acts conducted while I was an intelligence officer with the National Security Agency and with the Defense Intelligence Agency," Mr. Tice stated in the Dec. 16 letters, copies of which were obtained by The Washington Times.

I didn't realize there was a whistleblower statute covering spies. That would appear to cover any government employees who came forward to the NYT, and it suggests that Bush's investigation of the whistleblower could constitute illegal retaliation.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/

[gizmo1979]

1. No.

[Kagemusha]

2. You're under the impression NSA personnel are spies.

They're US government employees first and foremost. Second, Congress can provide whatever immunity for the content of the actual testimony that it pleases. If it doesn't please Congress to do so, tough for democracy.

[shance]

5. How do you define those who engaged in spying?

Those that spy are spies no matter who employs them.

[rosesaylavee]

3. Yes. They have to. Otherwise,

I think there will be an overwhelming response from We the People. As much as the spinners are out on this, the informal polls are in the 70-80% agreement that this needs to be investigated. Tice is someone I am sure Arlen Spector would want to hear from... And Tice has made it widely known and the MSM has reported it widely for a change that he wants to speak his piece about his stint in the NSA.

Truth will out. I hope its soon.

[Imagevision]

4. Tice may just have an unfortuate fatal accident or commit suicide

yaaaaaaaawn.....,!