WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Claims by the U.S. director of national intelligence a new law helped Germany foil an Islamic bombing plot are being disputed, the New York Times reported.
Speaking before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Monday, Mike McConnell said the controversial and newly updated Bush administration law that allows for warrantless wiretaps on foreign communication that pass through U.S. soil helped start the investigation in Germany last year.
The legislation is set to expire in five months, and faces opposition from many Democrats over civil liberties concerns.
After McConnell's testimony however, a government official involved in the eavesdropping law and who did not want to be identified told the Times McConnell's claims were wrong.
He said the information Germany got that led to last week's arrest of three Islamic militants was acquired under the old version of the law, which required warrants to eavesdrop on some e-mail and telephone calls.
A McConnell spokesman declined to comment, saying the law would be the subject of more Congressional hearings later this month.
