Sensenbrenner: Obama's Intel Czar Should Be Fired And Prosecuted For Lying To Congress

Rep. James Sensenbrenner, the original author of the Patriot Act wants the Department of Justice to prosecute Obama’s Director of National Intelligence James Clapper for lying to Congress.

Via The Hill:

“Lying to Congress is a federal offense, and Clapper ought to be fired and prosecuted for it,” the Wisconsin Republican said in an interview with The Hill.

He said the Justice Department should prosecute Clapper for giving false testimony during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing in March.

During that hearing, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) asked Clapper whether the National Security Agency (NSA) collects data on millions of Americans. Clapper insisted that the NSA does not — or at least does “not wittingly” — collect information on Americans in bulk.  

After documents leaked by Edward Snowden revealed that the NSA collects records on virtually all U.S. phone calls, Clapper apologized for the misleading comment. 

The intelligence director said he tried to give the “least untruthful” answer he could without revealing classified information.

Sensenbrenner said that explanation doesn’t hold water and argued the courts and Congress depend on accurate testimony to do their jobs. 

“The only way laws are effective is if they’re enforced,” Sensenbrenner said. “If it’s a criminal offense — and I believe Mr. Clapper has committed a criminal offense — then the Justice Department ought to do its job.”

I’ve got a couple of questions: 

1. We’ve known since March that Clapper lied to Congress – why hasn’t all of Congress demanded his removal and prosecution?

2. Is it even possible that the corrupt and hyper-politicized DOJ under Holder (who also has a history of lying to Congress) would consider prosecuting a fellow Obama official?