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UNCLASSIFIED
NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY
FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MARYLAND 20755-6000
Serial: LEG/OO3/06
9 January 2006
Dear Mr. Tice:
(U) It has come to my attention that you intend to meet soon with the staff of the
House Pennanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) about what you perceive to
be probable unlawful and unconstitutional acts conducted while you were an intelligence
officer with the National Security Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency.
(U) Let me state unequivocallythat you have everyright to petition Congress for
a redress of grievances. This right is guaranteedto you by the First Amendmentof the
United States Constitution. The NationalSecurityAgencyhas no intent to inftinge your
rights.
(U) I want to congratulate you that, in the exercise of your rights. you are acting
responsibly to protect sensitive intelligence information. In an 18 December 2005 letter
purported to be from you to the HPSCI and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
(SSCI) posted on an open website. you asked them to provide assurances that the staffers
or members who will receive your information have the proper security clearances and
that the appropriate cleared facilities will be available for these discussions. You state
that the information you wish to provide pertains to sensitive intelligence programs and
operations known as Special Access Programs. or SAPs.
(U) Seeking such assurances is consistent with the Non-Disclosure Agreement
that you signed .with NSA. However. I need to inform you that additional steps are
required. The SAPs to which you refer are controlled by the Department of Defense
(DoD) and I understand that neither the staff nor the members of the HPSCI or SSCI are
cleared to receive the information covered by the SAPs. Moreover. I understand you
have not notified either DoD or NSA. appropriately cleared individuals. of the improper
behavior you allege.
UNCLASSIFIED
--~ - - -- ~ - -
(U) Therefore, it is the position of the National Security Agency that, before you
provide classified infonnation to the HPSCI or SSCI, you provide a statement to the DoD
Inspector General or the NSA Inspector General of your complaint or infonnation and
notice of your intent to contact the intelligence committees directly and, further, that you
obtain and follow direction fi'omthe Secretary of Defense, through the DoD Inspector
General, or the Director of the NSA, through the NSA Inspector General, on how to
contact the intelligence ...[did not copy correctly]
.RENEE SEYMOUR
Director, NSA Special Access Programs Central Office
Copy Furnished:
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence