LEahy: We need oversight. The domestic spying program conducted by NSA was first reported by NYT in December 2005. The next day the president admitted that it had been going on since late 2001.
We've asked for presidential orders for secret orders to spy on Americans.
The hearing is about legality of the program, not the operational details. We need the official documents to get those answers.
The oversight committee - we are the duly elected representatives of the US.
(Remember that Leahy was kicked off the Intel committee for leaking stuff)
I wonder what kind of s***storm would befall if one of the Republican senators mentioned this in his opening remarks?