Phone Companies Refuse to Give Congress Data on Spy Program

JohNNy1+4 writes "Several US telephone communications firms are refusing to answer the questions of a congressional panel about spying on American citizens. The panel is making an inquiry into Bush administration tactics in the years since 2001, but has been stymied by the administration's claim that releasing that information would be illegal. As a result Verizon, AT&T, and Qwest have declined to answer the panel's queries. '"Our company essentially finds itself caught in the middle of an oversight dispute between the Congress and the executive relating to government surveillance activities," AT&T Inc. General Counsel Wayne Watts said in a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee that was released today by the panel.'"

Comments

Mod parent up!

[Spy der Mann]

"If AT&T has nothing to hide, it has nothing to fear!"

Best. Touché. Ever.

Mod parent insightful, please!

Re:Ah...Yes wiretapping

[gcauthon]

The infamous "Clinton did it!" defense. In record time, too!

Re:What a convenient time to become moral

[Obsidian Butterfly]

All we have to do is get somebody to give Bush a blow job.

Any Republican congressman want to volunteer?

Re:Scumbags

[Scrameustache]

they should have given that response to the NSA instead of saving it for Congress. Congress has unmarked planes and secret prisons in unpronounceable countries now?

Re:Contempt of Congress

[rk]

Wait, contempt of Congress is a CRIME?! Oh, hell, I'm in deep shit, 'cause I have nothing BUT contempt for those asshats. ;-)

Re:Don't blame me!

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sure they'd have the same attitude if I spied on my sister because "my brother-in-law made me do it." Pics or it didn't happen!