Former CIA Dir says Feinstein’s charge of spying is ‘a reach’

(Politico) Former Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency Director Michael Hayden dismissed charges made earlier this week that the CIA spied on Senate Intelligence Committee staffers, saying to call it such is “a bit of a reach.” Warning: The video may not be available on smart phones. Scroll down for transcript.

Former Central Intelligence Agency and NSA Director Michael Hayden is the same guy who claimed repeatedly, on camera, that “probable cause” is not the standard put forth in the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Trust me, you’ll want to see this again:

Transcript of the CNN appearance today:
CUOMO: OK. So let’s take a turn from — that’s a perfect segue from the idea of mistake versus malice. Now let’s talk about that in the context of the allegations of Senator Feinstein about the CIA spying on the Senate. A little bit of a loaded question.

But do you believe that you can say with any confidence that there’s no chance that the CIA was spying on members of the Senate? HAYDEN: Well, I mean, there is a chance that CIA looked after the fact, well, after the fact, at the data logs of computers that were used by Senate intel committee staffers and contractors. I think the agency has already admitted that.

Now if you want to call that spying on the Senate, I think that’s a bit of a reach. But I think Senator Chambliss had this about right. Let’s let all of the facts come out before we rush to judgment here.

CUOMO: What this does is it fuels concerns about whether we know enough about what the agency does. And for all of the respect of balancing the need for secrecy because we live in a more dangerous world than ever, we can’t just have a rogue agency involved. Is that fair concern?

HAYDEN: No, no. Absolutely fair concern. And there should be no secrecy between the agency and it’s congressional overseers. I mean, the law is quite clear that Congress has to be kept fully and currently informed about all significant intelligence activities.

Chris, I don’t think that’s the issue here. The issue here is over the content of the Senate report prepared by Senate Democratic staffers and contractors over the CIA interrogation program. I think the agency’s issue isn’t that it’s sensitive, isn’t that it’s secret, even isn’t — that it’s embarrassing. I think the agency’s issue is they think it’s wrong.

CUOMO: And at the end of the day, you think the facts will show it wasn’t spying, it’s something short of that?

HAYDEN: It will be something well short of that. Now look, honest people may still object to what the agency did or didn’t do. But I think we’re being overly dramatic right now.

CUOMO: All right. Well, we don’t want to do that.

Mr. Hayden, thank you very much. Appreciate the perspective on NEW DAY.

HAYDEN: Thank you.