An Internal Probe? Sounds Uncomfortable.

Remember how the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility was supposed to look into the advice DOJ lawyers gave the NSA concerning the legality of its warrantless surveillance program, but then it had to call off its probe because its investigators could not get the requisite security clearances? Remember how that seemed rather strange, inasmuch as government lawyers (such as the ones who advised the NSA about its surveillance) routinely get the clearances they need to do their work? On Tuesday, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales cleared up the mystery: It turns out that certain interested party did not think the work was necessary.