Grassley Calls for Inspector General Investigation Into Intentional Abuses by NSA Employees

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has sent a letter asking the Inspector General for the NSA to investigate "the intentional and willful misuse of surveillance authorities by NSA employees." Grassley's request comes after information surfaced last week showing NSA employees used their authority to spy on personal love interests.

“The American people are questioning the NSA and the FISA court system. Accountability for those who intentionally abused surveillance authorities and greater transparency can help rebuild that trust and ensure that both national security and the Constitution are protected,” Grassley said in a statement.

In the letter, Grassley asked the Inspector General to provide the following information:

(1) The specific details of the conduct committed by the NSA employee;

(2) The job title and attendant duties and responsibilities of the NSA employee at the time;

(3) How the conduct was discovered by NSA management and/or your office;

(4) The law or other legal authority – whether it be a statute, executive order, or regulation – that your office concluded was intentionally and willfully violated;

(5) The reasons your office concluded that the conduct was intentional and willful;

(6) The specifics of any internal administrative or disciplinary action that was taken against the employee, including whether the employee was terminated; and

(7) Whether your office referred any of these instances for criminal prosecution, and if not, why not?

Grassley has requested a response by September 11, 2013.