BREAKING NEWS -- VERIZON DENIES GIVING UP PHONE RECORDS

Jack Cafferty just reported it on CNN.

Why did it take all three companies named in the USA Today story four days to deny it? The day after the story, Verizon said they couldn't confirm or deny it, but now they're saying they didn't provide any data, weren't asked for any data, and have no "agreement" with the government.

USA Today stands by their reporting but won't dismiss out of hand the companies' claims; they're "looking closely" into it.

UPDATE: Josh Marshall has several posts parsing the statements of the Telcos and suggesting that they smell of non-denial denials. I agree, the stench wafts high and broadly.

Tags: NSA phone records, Verizon