U.S. Senate panel head accuses CIA of 'searching' staff computers March 11, 2014 - 19:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The head of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee has publicly accused the CIA of improperly accessing computers used by congressional staff, BBC News reports. Senator Dianne Feinstein said on the Senate floor that such activities "may have undermined the constitutional framework" of government oversight. The Senate committee was investigating allegations of abuse during a CIA detention and interrogation program. A CIA internal watchdog has been tasked with looking into the alleged hacking. "I am not taking it lightly," Feinstein said of the matter on Tuesday, March 11, adding that the CIA may have violated federal laws in its alleged conduct. The agency is accused of secretly removing documents from computers used by the Senate Intelligence Committee during an investigation into alleged CIA abuse. That alleged abuse is said to have stemmed from a detention and interrogation program under former President George W Bush. Feinstein has told U.S. media in the past that the committee's 6,000-page "comprehensive review", completed in 2013, found the CIA program yielded little or no significant intelligence. On Tuesday, the Senate intelligence committee chairwoman reportedly said such improper access to congressional networks, if true, amounted to attempted intimidation of investigators. She also said she had requested an apology from the agency and an acknowledgment that the search was inappropriate, but had "received neither". CIA inspector general David Buckley has been tasked with looking into the alleged actions, but CIA director John Brennan rejected the Senate allegations last week. "I am deeply dismayed that some members of the Senate have decided to make spurious allegations about CIA actions that are wholly unsupported by the facts," he said on March 5. "I am very confident that the appropriate authorities reviewing this matter will determine where wrongdoing, if any, occurred in either the Executive Branch or Legislative Branch." Related links:   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Erdogan wants “realistic road map” for relations with Armenia  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a “new realistic road map” for relations with Armenia.Armenia-Azerbaijan: Experts launch work on determining coordinates Expert groups from the countries started the process of determining the coordinates based on geodetic measurements.Yerevan says did not expect CSTO in peacekeeping role Pashinyan has declared that the CSTO would be expected to come to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as an ally of ArmeniaHenrikh Mkhitaryan wins Serie A title with Inter Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits that the team have long been imagining clinching Serie A against AC Milan. |
