Administration, Lawmakers Defend NSA Program To Collect Phone Records -- Washington Post
The Obama administration and key U.S. lawmakers on Thursday defended a National Security Agency program that apparently has collected the telephone records of tens of millions of American customers of Verizon, one of the nation’s largest phone companies, under a top-secret court order.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said the court order, issued in April, appears to be “the exact three-month renewal” of the program that has been underway for the past seven years. She said the program is “lawful.”
The order, which was signed by a judge from the secret court that oversees domestic surveillance, was first reported Wednesday on the Web site of London’s Guardian newspaper. The Web site reproduced a copy of the order, which two former U.S. officials told The Washington Post appears to be authentic.
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More News On The White House And Other Lawmakers Supporting The NSA In Collecting Phone Records
Administration defends collecting phone records -- AP
Obama administration defends phone record collection -- Reuters
Obama administration defends NSA collection of Verizon phone records -- The Guardian
Obama administration defends phone record seizure, does not confirm Verizon report -- NBC
US defends phone record sweep as 'tool' against terror -- AFP
US Defends Secretly Collecting Phone Records -- Voice of America
White House defends NSA collection of Verizon phone records; insists no eavesdropping -- Washington Times
White House defends collection of Verizon telephone records -- McClatchy News
Senate intelligence leaders say phone surveillance is 'lawful' -- CNN
Senators: NSA phone sweeping has been going on since 2007 -- The Hill
Sen. Jeff Flake: Other phone companies probably aid feds on snooping -- Washington Times
‘It’s Called Protecting America’: Senators Defend NSA On Phone Records -- TPM
Senate leaders say NSA data gathering is routine -- USA Today
Democrats criticize NSA phone tracking -- Politico
GOP Sen. Graham says he’s ‘glad’ NSA is collecting phone records -- Washington Times
Sen. Rand Paul slams government phone spying -- Washington Times