US News
U.S. to investigate domestic spying media leak
By DPA
Dec 31, 2005, 19:00 GMT

Washington - The U.S. Justice Department has begun an investigation into who leaked classified information about a top secret domestic spying programme to the media, an agency official said Friday.

'We have opened an investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of classified information related to the NSA,' the official, who requested anonymity, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The New York Times first reported the existence of the domestic spying operation, run by the National Security Agency, on December 16.

U.S. President George W. Bush has since confirmed the existence of the programme, first authorized in early 2002, saying it helps experts trace communications of terror suspects.

In the U.S. Congress, members on both sides of the political spectrum are calling for a review of the controversial programme. In particular, some are questioning whether the surveillance violates the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act because it occurred without court-approved warrants.