WASHINGTON DC--Senate Majority Leader Kate Landry, Democrat for West Virginia, today announced that the Senate would conduct a "thorough, prudent investigation" into the leak of the MINERVA data collection program, as well as the program's existence and administration. "Senate Democrats and Republicans alike are alarmed and concerned over the leak of classified information to members of the press, but we are also gravely concerned that telecom companies have willingly handed over consumer data to the federal government without regard for privacy concerns" said Senator Landry. "Having spoken with [dem]Chairwoman Shirley Weathers (D-IA)[/dem] and [rep]Ranking Member Caroline Beaumont (R-MS)[/rep], the leaders of the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security Committee, I have requested that immediate hearings take place in a closed session."

Senator Landry said that the closed session was essential to ensure that law enforcement officials, including current and former Department of Justice employees, could speak "openly and candidly" about the program itself. "I trust the Committee to complete its work with diligence and speed, and to treat this with the seriousness which it deserves" continued the Majority Leader. "When the hearings have concluded, JHS will issue a declassified report and allow the Senate to take further action based on the testimony they hear." Senator Landry said that the hearings would also address the issue of private and public leaks of sensitive information. "Clearly, the fact this program has become public in the manner it has suggests there is a very real problem in how information is handled, and the identity of the person or persons who broke the law needs to be made public so they may face the legal consequences of their actions."

"I wish to be clear: there is no partisan agenda in these hearings or in this investigation" continued Senator Landry. "The MINERVA program represents a breach of privacy for many Americans, and regardless of its value to law enforcement or the legality of the program, the fact remains that Congressional oversight was lacking, and that the telecom companies acted in a manner which violates the spirit of trust between corporation and consumer. As the elected officials of hundreds of millions of Americans, we have a duty to investigate how the program works, who leaked the program to the press, and how to reform the way in which law enforcement gathers information in the future to ensure that our nation is kept safe and that private data remains that--private.  The legality of the program is not our primary aim, nor is it at issue based on current law; rather, the ethics of the program and the roles played by various individuals and organizations are what demand answers."

The Majority Leader closed her comments to the press by noting that she had undertaken discussions with Senators regarding "legislation to further safeguard" data privacy in the months ahead. "Regardless of the final report of the Committee, it is clear that data privacy is an issue that Congress needs to take seriously. What emerges from this investigation will be legislation that strengthens consumer rights, as well as a road map to a better relationship between law enforcement, corporate America, and the general public. If there is one public good that has come of this incident, it is that we have highlighted the oversight role of Congress and the need for the legislative branch to act as a check on the Executive in the future."

Requests for further comment may be directed to Michael Schultz, the Majority Leader's chief of staff.