Senator, who has repeatedly warned about secret U.S. government surveillance, sounds new alarm over 'CIA activities' | TechCrunch

"A senior Democratic lawmaker with knowledge of some of the U.S. government's most secretive operations has said he has "deep concerns" about certain activities by the Central Intelligence Agency. The two-line letter written by Sen. Ron Wyden, the longest serving member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, does not disclose the nature of the CIA's activities or the senator's specific concerns."

"Tasked with oversight of the intelligence community, Wyden is one of a few lawmakers who is allowed to read highly classified information about ongoing government surveillance, including cyber and other intelligence operations. But as the programs are highly secretive, Wyden is barred from sharing details of what he knows with anyone else, including most other lawmakers, except for a handful of Senate staff with security clearance."

"Over the past few years, Wyden has subtly sounded the alarm on several occasions in which he has construed a secret ruling or intelligence gathering method as unlawful or unconstitutional. In 2011, Wyden said that the U.S. government was relying on a secret interpretation of the Patriot Act, which he said - without disclosing the nature of his concerns - created a "gap between what the public thinks the law says and what the American government secretly thinks""

Sen. Ron Wyden expressed "deep concerns" about certain Central Intelligence Agency activities without disclosing specifics. The two-line letter did not reveal the nature of the activities or the concerns. The CIA characterized Wyden's unhappiness as "ironic but unsurprising," calling it a "badge of honor." Wyden's staff declined comment because the matter is classified. Wyden holds special clearance to read highly classified surveillance and cyber intelligence programs but is barred from sharing details with most lawmakers. Wyden, a privacy hawk, has repeatedly raised alarms about secret rulings and methods he views as potentially unlawful, including a 2011 Patriot Act interpretation.

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