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The '''Gang of Eight''' ('''Go8''') is the civilian oversight board of elected officials who oversee the U.S. [[intelligence community]]. The Gang of Eight consists of: 1. The [[Speaker of the House]], 2. The Minority Leader of the House, 3. the Majority Leader of the Senate, 4. the Minority Leader of the Senate, 5. the Chairperson of the House Permanent Committee on Intelligence, 6. the minority leader from the same committee; 7. The Chairperson of the Senate Intelligence Committee and 8. the minority leader of the same committee.  It is the modern extension of the [[advise and consent]] clause of the [[U.S. Constitution]] that applies to covert activities.

The '''Gang of Eight''' ('''Go8''') is the civilian oversight board of elected officials who oversee the U.S. [[intelligence community]]. The Gang of Eight consists of: 1. The [[Speaker of the House]], 2. The Minority Leader of the House, 3. the Majority Leader of the Senate, 4. the Minority Leader of the Senate, 5. the Chairperson of the House Permanent Committee on Intelligence, 6. the minority leader from the same committee; 7. The Chairperson of the Senate Intelligence Committee and 8. the minority leader of the same committee.  It is the modern extension of the [[advise and consent]] clause of the [[U.S. Constitution]] that applies to covert activities.

The Go8 oversight process was largely the result of the [[Church Committee]] and post-[[Watergate]] reform era.  [[Executive branch]] rocedures for briefing congressional leaders on covert activities in the 21st century were modified based on recommendations of 9/11 Commission.  However, the [[Obama administration]] dispensed with legislative oversight of the intelligence community and converted the surveillance apparatus of the United States intelligence community into a domestic spying system on American citizens, political opponents, targeting [[conservative]]s, conservative movements, and Republicans up to the level of  presidential nominee.<ref>https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2021/07/04/preview-the-fourth-branch-of-government/</ref>

The Go8 oversight process was largely the result of the [[Church Committee]] in the post-[[Watergate]] reform era.  It was put in place after the 47-year career of FBI director [[J. Edgar Hoover]] who routinely spied on and blackmailed Washington politicians.  Hoover was largely considered untouchable even by the seven presidents he served under.

 

[[Executive branch]] procedures for briefing congressional leaders on covert activities in the 21st century were modified based on recommendations of 9/11 Commission.  However, the [[Obama administration]] dispensed with legislative oversight of the intelligence community and converted the surveillance apparatus of the United States intelligence community into a domestic spying system on American citizens, political opponents, targeting [[conservative]]s, conservative movements, and Republicans up to the level of  presidential nominee.<ref>https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2021/07/04/preview-the-fourth-branch-of-government/</ref>

The Go8 formerly were briefed on every covert operation that our various intelligence agencies carry out. They were directly responsible for oversight of the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA), the [[National Security Agency]] (NSA) and the [[Office of the Director of National Intelligence]] (ODNI).

The Go8 formerly were briefed on every covert operation that our various intelligence agencies carry out. They were directly responsible for oversight of the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA), the [[National Security Agency]] (NSA) and the [[Office of the Director of National Intelligence]] (ODNI).

==See also==

==See also==

*[[FBI scandal]]

*[[FBI scandal]]

==References==

==References==