Justice Department restarts inquiry into warrantless spying

0 Comments | USA TODAY, November, 2007 | by Donna Leinwand

Justice Department investigators have reopened an inquiry into the legality of the government's warrantless eavesdropping program.

Investigators in the department's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) had ended the inquiry last year when they were unable to get security clearances to examine the procedures of the National Security Agency (NSA).

The clearances come five days into the tenure of Attorney General Michael Mukasey, who had told senators during his confirmation process that he would not allow political concerns to impede investigations. Mukasey was confirmed by the Senate 53-40 late Thursday.

H. Marshall Jarrett, counsel for the OPR, revealed the revived investigation and security clearances in letters to five House Democrats who...