Outgoing Intel Czar Honors His Congressional Overseer For A Job Well Done « The Washington Independent
Jul 31, 20201.8K Shares379.8K Views
Mike McConnell, the outgoing director of national intelligence, basically had one overarching goal for his tenure: secure congressional approval for the Bush administration’s warrantless surveillance program through the revision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), the outgoing chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, helped him do it.
So it’s hardly surprising that McConnell should congratulate Rockefeller for accomplishing his mission.
Today, McConnell awarded Rockefeller the National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal. (PDF) Something about that just doesn’t quite scream “aggressive congressional oversight.” Rockefeller has always been disinclined to speak up for himself, and those close to him said he never wanted the headache of a top intelligence-committee position in the first place. But it’s amazing that he doesn’t seem to realize that McConnell is laughing at him by giving him this medal.
Hajra Shannon
Reviewer
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