As reported all over, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) poured out his frustration to Vice President Cheney, who apparently went behind his back to personally lobby the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Specter chairs. Cheney apparently sought to prevent the Judiciary Committee from having any hearing on the NSA’s phone call database. Specter had invited the executives of the telcos involved to testify.
You can read Specter’s letter here.
This is just the latest volley in the increasingly strident battle over the separation of powers. Yesterday, GOP Congressional investigators complained to The Hill about being lectured by the Bush administration on how best to conduct their oversight.
