How many in Congress were aware of NSA collecting phone records?

[flacaltenn]

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) on Thursday laid public concern over the National Security Agency's collection of phone records from millions of Verizon customers at the feet of President Barack Obama, declining to explain to reporters why such a program, approved by Congress years ago, is necessary.

"I trust the president will explain to the American people why the administration considers this a critical tool in protecting our nation from threat of terrorist attack," Boehner said at a weekly press briefing.

"Why isn't the burden also on you to explain why this act was passed?" a reporter pressed.

The Ohio Republican also would not say whether he was briefed or aware of the program.

“This is nothing particularly new," said Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA). "This has been going on for seven years under the auspices of the FISA authority, and every member of the United States Senate has been advised of this.”

“It’s called protecting America," added Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).

More: Boehner Declines To Explain Why NSA Phone Tracking Is Necessary | TPM LiveWire, By IGOR BOBIC

So, it appears that Boehner's "concern" is phony - considering he likely knew about it. Also, Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) made it clear that the entire Senate knew about it.

The fact is the data collection by the NSA has been common knowledge for years. Any member of Congress who denies such knowledge must be an issa, i.e. a liar, or too uninformed to serve in the Congress.

There's a 3rd possibility (your reference to Issa is ignored) --- that the CongressCritter willfully cut out of the briefing so that they can later claim deniability for the action..

The surveillance by NSA on large scale domestic data has been only for 6 or 7 years. And the liers out there (including your Dear Leader) contend it was all sanctioned by legal actions of Congress. The literal exemption for data collection in all the Patriot Act verbage is for "US citizens, US legal residents AND ANY OTHER PERSON residing in the US".

It would have literally exempted NSA from obtaining metadata or live Net traffic from Mohammed Attah unless it was directed overseas..

You need to tell your Prez -- who is now bent solely on revenge on the "leakers" --- that the law IS being broken -- that's why the leaks occurred --- and WryCatcher and FlaCalTenn have found something to be jointly irate about..