US spy agency seeks probe into leaks over Prism surveillance programme
Criminal investigation requested by secret spy service after newspapers reveal existence of US internet surveillance programme Prism
A top US intelligence agency has requested a criminal probe into the leak of highly classified information about its secret internet spy programme.
Confirmation that the National Security Agency filed a "crimes report" came a few hours after the nation's spy chief, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, launched an aggressive defence of a secret government data collection programme which he insisted was both legal and vital to national security.
Clapper blasted what he called "reckless disclosures" of the highly classified spy agency project code-named Prism.
The report goes to the Justice Department, which will determine whether an investigation is warranted. Prosecutors do not accept all requests, but they have brought a series of high-profile leak investigations under President Barack Obama.
US officials said the NSA leaks were so astonishing they expected the Justice Department to take the case. In a statement on Saturday, Clapper acknowledged Prism's existence by name for the first time and said it had been mischaracterised by the media.
The project was legal, not aimed at US citizens and had thwarted threats against the country, he said.
"Over the last week we have seen reckless disclosures of intelligence community measures used to keep Americans safe," Clapper said.
