A.M. Links: Officials Claim White House Didn't Know About NSA Spying on World Leaders, Kathleen Sebelius Testifying in the House Wednesday, Lou Reed Dead at 71
dannynorton/flickrUS officials say spying on world leaders was mostly stopped after the practice was mentioned in an internal Obama Administration memo this summer, and claim the White House was unaware of it before then. Angela Merkel's phone may have been monitored since 2002. Mike Rogers, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, meanwhile, defended the practices and insisted public information on them was misguided.
Kathleen Sebelius is set to testify Wednesday before the House Energy and Commerce Committee about the disaster that is Obamacare so far.
Federal authorities say they've seized 44,336 bitcoins worth $29 million allegedly belonging to Ross Ulbricht, who has been charged with drug dealing, money laundering, and other crimes related to his operation of Silk Road.
The FBI will investigate the fatal shooting by police of a 13-year-old boy who was carrying a pellet gun.
Syria has submitted a plan to eliminate its chemical weapons to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons four days ahead of the deadline.
Lou Reed, formerly of the Velvet Underground, died aged 71.
