CIA search of Senate computers reasonable, independent board says

WASHINGTON – An independent board says CIA officers acted reasonably when they searched Senate computers last year over concerns that Senate aides had removed classified documents related to the torture investigation.

The board, which was led by former Democratic Senator Evan Bayh, disputes the conclusions of the CIA's inspector general. The IG said in July that five CIA employees "improperly accessed" a Senate portion of a shared computer network.

The Bayh board said the five CIA employees did not deserve to be punished.

The CIA officers accessed five emails of Senate aides, but the board concluded the access was a mistake and did not reflect malfeasance or bad faith.