House leader raps review of e-mail surveillance tool

In a letter to Attorney General Janet Reno, House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, last week criticized the independence and scope of the Justice Department's review of its "Carnivore" e-mail surveillance tool.

Armey cited recently released documents that indicate Carnivore is just one of a group of snooping devices known to Justice as "DragonWare," the Associated Press reported.

The department hired the Illinois Institute of Technology's Research Institute to conduct an independent review of Carnivore to calm the fears of civil liberties groups and Congress.

Armey wants the review to encompass DragonWare, too. He also expressed concerns about the loyalties of the reviewers, some of whom have strong ties to government. One has donated the maximum allowable amount to Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore.

The Justice Department and the reviewers have said the report, due to be made public in December, would be fair. A Justice Department spokeswoman did not return a call for comment on Armey's letter.