A U.S. senator sent a cryptic letter to the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, conveying alarm about the agency’s operations.
On Wednesday, Sen. Ron Wyden — an Oregon Democrat who serves on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence — posted a brief letter addressed to CIA Director John Ratcliffe, drawing his attention to an earlier “classified” message.
“I write to alert you to a classified letter I sent you earlier today, in which I express deep concerns about CIA activities,” Wyden wrote. “Thank you for your attention to this important matter.”
It’s not clear what activities — whether at home or abroad — Wyden was referring to. A representative for his office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent.
“During recent congressional briefings, CIA earned bicameral, bipartisan praise for its historic contributions and widespread recognition of the Agency’s exceptional performance under Director Ratcliffe,” CIA Spokesperson Liz Lyons told The Independent. “Ironic but unsurprising that Senator Wyden is unhappy. Badge of honor.”
Another read with context:
https://www.commondreams.org/news/wyden-cia
“Given the current administration’s approach to, well, everything, the possibilities are unfortunately vast,” Masnick said. “Is it about domestic surveillance? Something about current [Office of the Director of National Intelligence] Tulsi Gabbard? International operations gone sideways? Some new interpretation of the CIA’s authorities that would make Americans’ hair stand on end if they knew about it? We’re left guessing, just like we were guessing about the PATRIOT Act’s secret interpretation back in 2011.”