During a Congressional hearing, a direct yes/no question was asked to Director Clapper by Senator Wyden on March 12, 2013, "Does the NSA collect any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans?"
While nervously scratching his head, Director Clapper responded, "No, sir.
On June 6, 2013, after a disclosure made by whistle-blower, Edward Snowden, Director Clapper released a statement admitting the NSA collects telephony metadata on millions of Americans' telephone calls.
Any official who has taken an oath to uphold our Constitution and protect our democratic process and knowingly subverts a Congressional hearing regarding our Constitutional liberties ought to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.