this is quite the stunning little story. seems that the whole top of the justice department, including john ashcroft and the director of the fbi, robert mueller, were going to resign rather than let the admin reauthorize their domestic surveillance program. they didn't, i guess because they either got some massive pressure of some sort - like, of the blackmail sort - or assurances that some aspects would be cleaned up. unfortunately, comey is not saying what those aspects are, but it is possible, for example, that initially the program had nothing to do with calls from or to outside the us, that it represented some kind of massive secret domestic surveillance program, pushed by bush, gonzales (as white house counsel), and cheney (the white house and vice presidential chiefs of staff - card and addington - were directly involved in the pressure). they thought they could get the thing re-authorized by ashcroft while he was in intensive care, and evidently he pointedly refused, then collapsed.
no wonder they ditched ashcroft and replaced him with that repulsive little toady. it will be good to find out what they're doing in these days of stench.