Similar the IRS scandal, the NSA surveillance program will have implications heading into 2014 and 2016. No doubt this revelation bolsters the stock of libertarian-minded politician like Senator Rand Paul.
Report from CBS News:
Beginning this week, members of Congress intend to get answers from the National Security Agency about the legal justification it’s been relying on for its sweeping surveillance activities. Congress will get its chance to question the intelligence community with a series of briefings and at least two hearings this week, while a few members will meet Tuesday to consider a possible lawsuit in response to the surveillance revelations.
“I think it’s a constitutional issue, without a doubt,” Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said to CBSNews.com about the NSA’s recently revealed tactics, which include the widespread collection of U.S. phone records from Verizon, as well as the collection of internet content from non-U.S. internet users outside of the United States. While the collection of internet content doesn’t target U.S. users, the NSA could capture information from Americans unintentionally.
“I don’t think the Constitution allows for broad sweeps of personal data of people who aren’t even suspected of doing anything,” Massie said. “As of this week, we now know that’s occurring.”
Sound off the NSA surveillance program…