Changes

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.

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>

After the recommendations of 9/11 Commission report, [[Executive branch]] procedures in the 21st century for briefing congressional leaders were somewhat modified.  However, the [[Obama administration]] dispensed with legislative oversight of the intelligence community and converted the electronic surveillance capabilities of the intelligence community against terrorist organizations, foreign intelligence agencies, and drug cartels into a domestic spying apparatus on American citizens, political opponents, [[conservative]] figures and organizations, 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).