It seems that back in March Senator Wyden (D-Ore) asked Director of National Intelligence James Clapper a direct question about NSA surveillence (h/t emptywheel🙂
“Does the NSA collect any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans?” Wyden asked Clapper at the March 12 hearing.“No, sir,” Clapper answered.
“It does not?” Wyden pressed.
Clapper quickly and haltingly softened his answer. “Not wittingly,” he said. “There are cases where they could, inadvertently perhaps, collect – but not wittingly.”
Lara Jakes – Wyden cites contradiction in eavesdropping answer AP via Independent Mail 11 Jun 13
One suspects that in this exchange Senator Wyden already has a pretty good idea of the correct answer so the question to the administration’s most senior intelligence director is purposeful and significant.