Over-reaching, Not Oversight

At his press conference this morning, President Bush justified spying on Americans without a warrant by saying there was "congressional oversight"

Here's what Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader had to say about his dealings with the White House on this issue.

“The President asserted in his December 17th radio address that “leaders in Congress have been briefed more than a dozen times on this authorization and the activities conducted under it.” This statement gives the American public a very misleading impression that the President fully consulted with Congress.

“First, it is quite likely that 96 Senators of 100 Senators, including 13 of 15 on the Senate Intelligence Committee first learned about this program in the New York Times, not from any Administration briefing. “I personally received a single very short briefing on this program earlier this year prior to its public disclosure. That briefing occurred more than three years after the President said this program began.

“The Administration briefers did not seek my advice or consent about the program, and based on what I have heard publicly since, key details about the program apparently were not provided to me."

Overight my ass. This story is only getting hotter and it can mean very bad news for the President.