Washington – Lawmakers sounded unconvinced Sunday that it is legal for the president to allow government agencies to collect records on millions of Americans’ phone calls.
The White House has declined to discuss specifics of the massive data grab revealed last week or even confirm it exists, but the Bush administration insists any actions taken by the National Security Agency since 9/11 do not break the law.
“We have a series of efforts and intelligence programs to try and prevent this country from being attacked. They are lawful,” National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle weren’t so sure Sunday, saying they want answers on how phone records are being gathered, used and stored.
“We need to know exactly what that program is about,” said Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., on ABC’s “This Week.” “The American people need to be assured that their government is, in fact, following the law.”
