During testimony before members of Congress on Thursday, Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) asked Attorney General Eric Holder whether his department’s expansive monitoring of the communications records of journalists extended to members of the Congress. Holder refused to answer the question in a public setting, prompting Kirk to scold him for not simply responding “no.”



Kirk began by referencing the developing scandal surrounding the revelation that the National Security Agency has been requesting the phone records of all of Verizon’s customers.

“You know, when government bureaucrats are sloppy they’re usually really sloppy,” Krik said. “Want to just ask, could you assure to us that no phones inside the Capitol were monitored of members of Congress that would give a future executive branch, if they started pulling this kind of thing up, would give them unique leverage over the legislature?”

“With all due respect, Senator, I don’t think this is an appropriate setting for me to discuss that issue,” Holder replied. “I’d be more than glad to come back in an appropriate setting to discuss the issues that you have raised, but in this open forum..”

Kirk interrupted Holder. “The correct answer would be, ‘No, we stayed within our lane and I’m assuring you we did not spy on members of Congress,” he said.

Watch the clip below via C-SPAN:

h/t Washington Examiner

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