Issa on Latest CIA Senate Spying Scandal Revelation: It's Still 'Treason'

The office of Chairman of the House Oversight Committee Darrell Issa confirmed to Breitbart News on Friday that he still believes the act of the CIA spying on the Senate Intelligence Committee is “treason.”

“I think Senator Feinstein is as outraged as anyone, and I share her outrage. I think the violation of the Constitutional separation of powers should be an offense of the highest level–virtually treason,” he said in March to Breitbart News, when it was revealed that agency personnel inappropriately searched Senate Intelligence Committee computers to research Bush-era terrorist interrogation tactics.

President Barak Obama stood by Brennan, saying at a White House press conference on Friday:

I have full confidence in John Brennan. I think he has acknowledged it and directly apologized to Sen. Feinstein that CIA personnel did not properly handle an investigation as to how certain documents that were not authorized to be released to Senate staff. It’s clear from the IG report that was some poor judgment as to how that was handled. Keep in mind, though, that it was John Brennan who called for the IG report, and he already stood up a task force to make sure lessons are learned and mistakes are resolved.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Feinstein released a statement about the latest revelation, but did not call for any punishment at the agency. Feinstein expects the IG report to be released to the public soon.

“The investigation confirmed what I said on the Senate floor in March — CIA personnel inappropriately searched Senate Intelligence Committee computers in violation of an agreement we had reached, and I believe in violation of the constitutional separation of powers.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told Breitbart News on Thursday that Brennan should listen to Democrats like Sens. Mark Udall and Martin Heinrich and resign immediately.

However, the Senate Intelligence Committee’s ranking member Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) is not ready to call for Brennan’s resignation, telling The Washington Examiner, “The [inspector general’s] report says specifically, he didn’t direct it, he didn’t know about it in advance, but when he found out about it, he came to the committee, so I think Brennan has done what he’s supposed to do.”