Dem lawmaker calls for investigation into CIA’s leak of hacking tools

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) is calling for an investigation into how thousands of secret documents — including CIA hacking tools — ended up in the hands of WikiLeaks.

“I am deeply disturbed by the allegation that the CIA lost its arsenal of hacking tools,” said Lieu in a statement.

{mosads}Tuesday morning, WikiLeaks published an archive of files including descriptions of hacking techniques used to turn targets’ cell phones and televisions into surveillance devices. 

WikiLeaks said the documents came from a secure CIA network. 

“The ramifications could be devastating. I am calling for an immediate congressional investigation. We need to know if the CIA lost control of its hacking tools, who may have those tools, and how do we now protect the privacy of Americans,” said Lieu. 

Any investigation would likely to fall upon the House or Senate Intelligence committees, whose attentions are already focused on another major investigation — Russian interference in the 2016 election. 

As recently as the end of last week, Lieu had expressed his support for leakers looking to expose malfeasance, tweeting “Are you a whistleblower & upset at all the lies from the Trump Admin?” and a link to instructions to securely leak documents to reporters hosted on his House website.

However, there is a big difference between largely unclassified White House behind-the-scenes operations and national secrets like specific CIA hacking techniques.