Mystery spy program

last updated 8 January 2015

Washington, D.C.

The Bush administration concealed another “major” intelligence-gathering program from Congress, a leading Republican lawmaker said last week. Rep. Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, who heads the House Intelligence Committee, said he learned about the spy program from a National Security Agency whistle-blower. Hoekstra said he warned President Bush in a letter that the administration’s failure to brief Congress on the matter could be a “violation of law.” Hoekstra did not describe the program, but it apparently is not related either to the previously disclosed NSA domestic phone surveillance or to the Treasury’s tracking of financial transactions. The White House declined comment.