Reply #1: Link to drational @ kos:

[mod mom]

Tom DeLay and Warrantless Wiretapping: Update
by drational

Wed Aug 15, 2007 at 05:06:38 AM PDT

I am going to admit up front that I do not know the answer to the question I am about to ask. But it is a question that needs to be asked and answered, and I welcome any good ideas....

Why was House Majority Leader Tom Delay briefed alone on the NSA-driven surveillance program for the first and only time on March 11, 2004, the day after the Comey-Gonzales Hospital Showdown?

drational's diary :: ::
According to James Comey's May 15, 2007 SJC testimony, on Thursday, March 4, 2004, Comey told Ashcroft that the NSA-driven Surveillance Program (which we now know included the spying activities later declassified and named the "Terrorist Surveillance Program", TSP) had no legal basis. The program was due for reauthorization on March 11, 2004, but Ashcroft was prepared to support the legal analysis and refuse to give the required DOJ authorization to the program. Shortly after the conversation with Comey, Ashcroft became severely ill with gallstone pancreatitis, and Comey Became Acting Attorney General.

On March 10, 2004, the "Gang of Eight" was briefed together (for the first time as a group) on the NSA-driven Surveillance Program. It is unclear whether they were told that the James Comey would not sign off on the program as acting Attorney General, nor is it known whether the Gang of Eight knew what the Administration was prepared to do to circumvent Comey's stance. Nonetheless, with Comey as acting AG, the program was not going to be authorized by the DOJ. After the March 10, 2004 Gang of Eight Briefing, Card and Gonzales initiated their infamous Hospital Signature Mission, attempting to get approval for the program from the ill and sedated John Ashcroft. This effort failed.



-snip

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/15/8638/81745