But he isn't "obliged" to tell all of Congress, just the "Gang of 8", majority and minority leader in both houses of Congress, and chair and ranking member of the two congressional (House and Senate) intelligence committees.
FBI Director James Comey meets with Congress 'Gang of Eight' - March 10, 2017
"Obliged" in scare quotes because there is a legitimate constitutional separation of powers question about Congress poking around in executive branch business.
This "Ganag of eight" is also supposed to be briefed on covert military actions and assorted other matters.
It's important to remember the purpose of the intelligence committees. In the 1970's, the Church Committee investigated grave abuses of power in the name of national security. One of its core findings was that the complete lack of congressional oversight created fertile ground for executive overreach. It recommended that special committees in Congress be created to keep the intelligence and national security community within the confines of the law.
Gang of Eight Members Want a Bigger Gang | ACLU | April 1, 2010
I'm of a mind that Congressional oversight is a nothing more than a propaganda tool. The oversight is toothless. The NSA, CIA and FBI are essentially rogue to the extent they can keep their activites hidden, which is pretty darn far!
You’ve got it.
There are separation of powers questions here that Treehouse glosses over.
Congress, and the (generic) president love these agencies ‘independence’ so no one can really be held accountable while government grows without restraint.
Congress controls the money and can end ‘abuses’ any time. They just don’t want to.
***I’m of a mind that Congressional oversight is a nothing more than a propaganda tool. The oversight is toothless. The NSA, CIA and FBI are essentially rogue to the extent they can keep their activites hidden, which is pretty darn far!***
You make a very good point.