House leaders irate over wiretaps

WASHINGTON, April 22 (UPI) -- U.S. House of Representatives leaders rallied around Rep. Jan Harman, D-Calif., who demanded a probe into the FBI's surreptitiously taping her conversations.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California expressed "great confidence" in Harman, calling her a "patriotic American," The Hill reported Wednesday.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland backed Harman's demand that the Justice Department investigate whether executive branch officials eavesdropped on conversations of other lawmakers.

"I think the Justice Department needs to take this under consideration as well," Hoyer said.

A published report suggested Harman demanded a quid pro quo in which she would push U.S. officials to drop or reduce spying charges against American Israel Public Affairs Committee officials, and an Israeli-American financier, a major campaign contributor, would pressure then-incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to name Harman to head the House Intelligence Committee.

Harman has denied the allegations and demanded U.S. intelligence agencies release full transcripts of her conversations.

Regarding the chairmanship, Pelosi said the House has a tradition of two terms in chairmanships, and Harman had served two terms.

Hoyer indicated Congress is considering a response as well, though it's not clear yet what that would be, the Washington publication said.

Harman said other House members have contacted her, concerned that the government might have eavesdropped on their conversations. At least one member of Congress agreed, indicating those tapping Harman's phones could be under as much scrutiny as the California Democrat.

"I do want to find out why she was wiretapped," the lawmaker told The Hill. "It's certainly something I was interested in. I'm anxious to talk to people about it."