Skip to main content

The House Intelligence Committee Adopted Several Other Covert Action-Related Measures as Part of FY2010 Intelligence Bill

The House Intelligence Committee adopted several additional statutory changes with regard to
covert action notifications. One such change would require that the information or material
concerning covert actions include any information or material relating to the legal authority under
which a covert action is being or was conducted, and any information or material relating to legal
issues upon which guidance was sought in carrying out or planning the covert action, including
dissenting legal views.46

Another change would require that the President provide Members who are not notified of a
particular covert action, pursuant to the procedures established by the each of the committees,
with general information on the content of the covert action.47

The Committee also adopted a provision that would permit a member who objects to a particular
covert action that has been notified to submit an objection to the Director of National Intelligence.
The DNI is required to notify the President of the objection no later than 48 hours after the
objection has been submitted.48

Finally, the committee approved covert action-related provisions that would:

• require that the CIA inspector general audit each covert action every three
years;49

• require that the President maintain a record of the Members of Congress notified
of a covert action and to provide such record within 30 days after the notification
is provided;50 and

• define the current statutory phrase “significant undertaking” to mean an activity
involving the potential for loss of life; requiring an expansion of existing
authorities, including authorities relating to research, development, or operations;
resulting in the expenditure of significant funds or other resources; requiring
notification under section 504; giving rise to a significant risk of disclosing
intelligence sources or methods; or possibly causing serious damage to the
diplomatic relations if the activity were to be disclosed without authorization.51

Endnotes

46 See H.R. 2701, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, Sec. 321 (d).

47 Ibid, (g) (2).

48 Ibid, (g) (1).

49 Ibid, Sec. 411.

50 Ibid, Sec. 321 (g) (3).

51 Ibid, Sec. 321 (d) (2).
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Further Reading: CHAOS: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties

For readers wanting to dive into topics covered in the fascinating CHAOS: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties by Tom O'Neill with Dan Piepenbring, here is a compendium of books used as sources as part of this 20-year investigative effort. It makes for a great reading list for those interested in the 1960s, FBI, CIA, the counter-culture and the history of the United States of the past century. Choose a topic (organized here by the CHAOS's chapters and each book's first appearance therein) and dive in further down the rabbit hole. CHAPTER 1: The Crime of the Century Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders   by   Vincent Bugliosi with Curt Gentry, 1974 Will You Die For Me? The Man Who Killed For Charles Manson Tells His Own Story  by Tex Watson as told to Chaplain Ray, 1978 My Life with Charles Manson   by Paul Watkins with Guillermo Soledad, 1979 CHAPTER 2: An Aura of Danger Heroes And Villains: The True Story Of The B
Post a Comment
Read more

CIA Domestic Activities Timeline - August 1972

1 August 1972 DDS related that Mr. [...] of the CI Staff received a call from the Secret Service requesting our training film on defensive driving. The Director interposed no objection to making this film available. 8 August 1972 Houston reported that Judge McArdle granted a motion for summary judgment in the Tofte case. 21 August 1972 Houston noted a telephone call from Howard Hunt who explained that his attorney was with him and had a question about a friend's past affiliation with the Agency. [...] DD/Sec, has reviewed the employment, and Houston reported that he replied directly to Hunt's friend, Mr. [...] that his old affiliation should create no problems in connection with his appearance before a grand jury. 22 August 1972 Thuermer reported on a call from a Mr. Crewdson of the New York Times who said he was "formally requesting" a photograph of Howard Hunt. The DDP observed that we are under no obligation to provide a photograph, and Thuermer said he had decline
Post a Comment
Read more

CIA Domestic Activities Timeline - July 1971

1 July 1971 "Carver noted that Secretary Laird had requested that our printing plant assist in reproducing the forty-seven-volume secret Pentagon study on Vietnam for distribution to the press and others this morning. This request was aborted by the President." (DDCI in the chair) 2 July 1971 "DD/S said that in the absence of [...] attended a meeting at the White House yesterday of the interagency group which is reviewing classification and declassification policy. The President spent an hour with the group and said that he wants: ... and (6) the revocation of all clearances and the return of all classified material held at Harvard, Brookings, Rand, and Cal Tech, as well as the withdrawal of Q clearances held by the Regents of the University of California. A brief discussion followed, and the Executive Director noted that DOD has asked us to provide information on all our contracts with Rand, as well as all clearances held by Rand personnel for our purposes. Acting Direc
Post a Comment
Read more