Author of the Patriot Act Calls Sen. Feinstein's Bill "a Joke"

Rep. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wisc.) says Congress' intelligence committees have become NSA "cheerleaders"

Rep. James Sensenbrenner Jr. doesn't mince his words.

The Wisconsin Republican says the House and Senate Intelligence committees have become "cheerleaders" for the National Security Agency.

"Instead of putting the brakes on overreaches, they've been stepping on the gas," he said of the committees, which are led by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

In an interview with The Hill, Sensenbrenner — who has offered legislation to rein in the NSA — called rival legislation "a joke."

He said Director of National Intelligence James Clapper should be prosecuted for "lying" to Congress on the nation's surveillance programs.