Senator Dianne Feinstein Communications with the CIA

The following documents are communications between the office of Senator Dianne Feinstein and the CIA.

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Senator Dianne Feinstein Communications with the CIA [38 Pages, 9.5MB] – In this Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) release, documents were disclosed that shed light on the communications between the office of the late Senator Dianne Feinstein and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The FOIA request, filed on March 14, 2014, sought to uncover communications from January 1, 2014, through circa March 2013. The CIA, after a comprehensive search, found seven documents, of which two were released in full and five with redactions due to FOIA exemptions.

A central theme in these documents is the respect for the Constitution’s separation of powers, as highlighted in a letter dated January 27, 2014, from the CIA Director. This letter acknowledges the critical importance of this principle for the effective functioning and oversight of government operations.

The correspondence also reveals concerns raised by Senator Feinstein regarding unauthorized searches conducted by the CIA. In a letter, Feinstein describes the CIA’s actions at an offsite facility assigned exclusively to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) staff. These searches were to locate specific documents related to the CIA Detention and Interrogation Program. Feinstein underscored the potential constitutional issues arising from these unauthorized searches, indicating a possible breach of the separation of powers.

The matter escalated when Senator Feinstein, in a letter dated January 17, 2014, requested the CIA to suspend all searches of the Committee network. This request was subsequently agreed upon by the CIA, aligning with previous written agreements between the agency and the Committee.

Further emphasizing the seriousness of the issue, the SSCI, on March 13, 2014, voted to formally request detailed responses from the CIA regarding their search of the computer network at the CIA-leased facility. This was in the context of the Committee’s investigation into the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program.

Overall, the FOIA release provides a rare glimpse into the interactions between a key Senate oversight committee and the CIA. It highlights the complexities and sensitivities involved in maintaining legal and constitutional boundaries in the realm of intelligence and national security.

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