Reyes: McConnell Lied When He Claimed New FISA Law Stopped Terrorist Attack
Reyes: McConnell Lied When He Claimed New FISA Law Stopped Terrorist Attack
On Monday, in testimony before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell claimed that the new expansive FISA law adopted by Congress prior to the August recess was responsible for the foiling of an alleged terrorist attack in Germany.
As Think Progress noted yesterday, McConnell’s testimony was later contradicted by an anonymous government official, who said “McConnell might have misspoken,” as the intelligence used to thwart the plan was gathered under the old FISA law:
[T]he official, who has been briefed on the eavesdropping laws and the information given to the Germans, said that those intercepts were recovered last year under the old law.
House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), Chairman of the House Select Intelligence Oversight Panel, both issued statements chastising McConnell and urging him to back up his claims.
Today, Rep. Silvestre Reyes, the Chairman of the full House Intelligence Committee, wrote a letter to McConnell, confirming that the new FISA law did not play a role and requested a public correction:
I am told by senior American officials that U.S. assistance to German intelligence was based on collection under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), several months before its modification by Congress in August. Accordingly, the new law did not lead to the arrests of the three terrorist plotters, as you claimed. [...]
I therefore urge you to issue a public statement immediately to confirm that the surveillance used to assist in the disruption of German plot was collected pursuant to FISA before the passage of the Protect America Act.
McConnell has yet to publicly concede his false claim.
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So what else is new?
How do you know when a GOOPer is lying?
His lips are moving…
September 12th, 2007 at 6:33 pmMighty, please acknowledge this blatant attempt to distort evidence and misslead congress.
September 12th, 2007 at 6:34 pmNo, a public statement is not sufficient. This seems to be a very consistent pattern with Bush Administration officials. The company position is clearly and dramatically stated. It garners significant MSM and right wing blogger attention. The Dems note that it is simply not true. Later comes a piece of paper noting that the administration official mispoke. It is given little public play and another myth is born. Note, Gonzo and the others.
September 12th, 2007 at 6:34 pmCue up “Troll Smear Job”: 3, 2, 1… ACTION!
September 12th, 2007 at 6:35 pmMistakes were made!
September 12th, 2007 at 6:37 pmFalse claim? BushCo’s mantra is “no retreat, no surrender,” but have just recently added, “run out the clock.”
September 12th, 2007 at 6:37 pmThat pretty much covers it JMOHR. The lie stands because no one notices the retraction.
September 12th, 2007 at 6:38 pmAnd he won’t. He will probably blame a Democrat.
September 12th, 2007 at 6:40 pmIt just never ends with these clowns, does it?
September 12th, 2007 at 6:43 pmIt just never ends with these clowns, does it?
Comment by james k. sayre — September 12, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
Please allow me to make a couple of little changes there, James…
“It just never F-in’ ends w/ these clueless *ss-clowns, does it?”
Gives the statement just a little more of an edge, no?
September 12th, 2007 at 6:47 pmLike that is ever going to happen. The Republicans have learned that they can lie with impunity and they continue to do so. Until the Democrats hold their feet to the fire and expose each and every lie, including enforcing subpoenas, the Republicans will continue to thumb their noses in our face.
Has the MSM reported that McConnell lied? My bet is that they haven’t. They did report his lie as the truth, but they probably won’t report that what he said is a lie.
September 12th, 2007 at 6:52 pmBTW, is that a bad comb-over, or what?
September 12th, 2007 at 6:55 pmCome on!
September 12th, 2007 at 7:00 pmThey’ve been lying from day one. Like this is news.
Check out this 60 minutes piece that was buried.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inyCkCvqRO0
It is not surprising that they lied because they really don’t have any liable evidence that their are winning any fight against terrorism. The best way to fight terrorism is to deal with the issue of severe poverty and pass the Global Poverty Act recently introduced into Congress. With that, we can stick to our promise in 2001 with the Millennium Goals and fight social unrest by eradicating poverty.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:00 pmMike McCombover.
No wonder he’s such a pud, he’s got Giuliani’s fashion sense.
-GSD
September 12th, 2007 at 7:07 pmCall Joe Lieberman out as well, he was the one who lobbed the softball question at McConnell yesterday.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:08 pmThese guys are lying sacks of bush!t.
I’ve gotten to the point where when this criminal bunch of thugs says something I assume the opposite is true, they say “up”, I look down, they say “right”, I look left. It just has gotten ridiculous.
When is dumberthanashitsandwichthatpoststotalcrap gonna show up here for its show of stupidity.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:10 pmSept. 12, 2007 – In a new embarrassment for the Bush administration top spymaster, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell is withdrawing an assertion he made to Congress this week that a recently passed electronic-surveillance law helped U.S. authorities foil a major terror plot in Germany.
On MSNBC.com right now…
September 12th, 2007 at 7:10 pmbushies; making Orwell proud.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:11 pmRepukes know they can say shit, and the retraction won’t have the same effect, even when MSNBC reports the retraction. Cuz the loyal 28percenters will only hold on to the original statement. This is purposeful.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:15 pmNo wonder he’s such a pud, he’s got Giuliani’s fashion sense.
Comment by GSD — September 12, 2007 @ 7:07 pm
hey! “pud” is an oft used term of endearment i use
September 12th, 2007 at 7:16 pmfor my kits and pup…
awww… now, what do i do???
(OT, but hell, it’s humpday)
There once was a Senator named Vitter,
September 12th, 2007 at 7:25 pmwho’s whoring had D.C. atwitter,
He continued to serve,
with way too much verve,
Leaving hopeful Republicans bitter.
katy
Make McConnell one of your pets and they can ALL be puds. Problem solved. Of course, I can’t guarantee that McConnell will be housebroken, refrain from humping the leg of your dining room table, or not shed.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:25 pm…
he does kinda look like my shitzu…
but, no thanks PLC…
really though… “pud” is way too cute of a name to be
used as a label for any of the bushco criminals…
take it back, GSD … k? … please?
September 12th, 2007 at 7:32 pm…
Katy, a little info from the Urban Dictionary.
Pud.
-GSD
September 12th, 2007 at 7:45 pmComment by GSD — September 12, 2007 @ 7:45 pm
OH NO!!!
i did not know that! and all my pets are ladies!
ok then… when referring to these crooks,
could you please just call ‘em DICKS…
’cause that’s what they are…
thanks… i love urban dictionary…
September 12th, 2007 at 7:58 pm…
Caption contest:
“You try walking around with a permanent frown…and no lips”…
September 12th, 2007 at 9:23 pmBut of course it doesn’t matter because he’s a Republican and…oh yah, they’re all liars.
September 12th, 2007 at 9:39 pmAlas! It is true. One HAS to be a liar to be a member of this Administration. It appears to be a prerequisit. Apparently if the lying reaches monumental proportions the member becomes eligible for the Congressional Medal of Honor! So many eligible, so little time!
September 12th, 2007 at 10:09 pmSooner or later this administration corrupts everyone in it.
September 12th, 2007 at 10:46 pmah ha!!!
GSD – just heard on daily show:
“i don’t know… but that guy’s gotta be swingin’ some pud” !!!
in reference to dennis kucinich’s gorgeous wife, elizabeth…
showing a picture of her in that hat at the spanish lanquage “debate”…
hilarious!
(and it must be, is what i’ve always thought! …gotta be!)
September 12th, 2007 at 11:13 pm…
Why should I be surprised?
September 13th, 2007 at 11:37 pmYou’ve seen and heard all the lies, now here are the facts by scientists….
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/1227842.html?page=9
September 14th, 2007 at 3:31 pm