[boren_ave11]

Friendly reminder: the FBI and NSA are part of the executive branch of government and report to the President of the United States. Make no mistake -- there absolutely is someone who could stop this. The fact that this clearly unconstitutional activity not only continued after being exposed, but actually appears to has expanded in its scope, leaves us with but one conclusion: the President supports this activity and wants it to continue.

[j1vms]

> (...) are part of the executive branch of government and report to the President of the United States.

It's very likely, from what we have observed over the past sixty to seventy years, that the Executive Branch does not operate this way in practice. The actual bureaucratic system has probably morphed to allow for deniability and other measures that offer structural protection against political or legal attacks.

[boren_ave11]

But we know that he knows about it. Because he has talked about it. He once gave a speech specifically about government spying. Not only was the illegal activity not stopped, it expanded. There simply is no deniability left.

[Tepix]

Or he is being blackmailed by an entity that knows enough of his secrets to destroy him.

[shostack]

Ah, I see you too read Influx.