White House Denies Clapper Will Lead NSA Review

It would be a bit of a conflict of interest

The Obama administration is denying that James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, will control a review of the government's surveillance programs.

Privacy advocates expressed dismay on Monday after President Obama directed Clapper to establish a group that will provide recommendations for reforming the controversial surveillance programs. 

The review is part of the president's push to restore public trust in the programs, but the privacy activists argue that the group can't be independent if it is led by the administration's top intelligence official.

"Director Clapper will not be a part of the group, and is not leading or directing the group's efforts," Caitlin Hayden, a White House spokeswoman, told The Hill on Tuesday.