Capitol Hill is due for a rip-roaring, bipartisan tantrum of the most productive kind. Democrats and Republicans alike ought to be outraged by reports of secret surveillance activities, lying by the Central Intelligence Agency, and cancellation of a scandalous covert program by its livid new director.

Public hearings are the way to find out about the expansive efforts to invade privacy on the whim and legal opinion of some accommodating ideological hack in the Justice Department. Congress sought out details a year ago, and investigators turned in their findings on Friday. Huge doubts were inspired about the legal basis for the aggressive surveillance of ordinary Americans.

Another bombshell was dropped by CIA director Leon Panetta. Five months after he took the top job, Panetta said he was told about a particularly odious covert program, which he abruptly terminated. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, a Texas Democrat, was sufficiently shocked to consider hearings before his House Intelligence Committee. The nature of the activity was not disclosed.

These stories come amid reports the CIA flat out lied on other topics in testimony before Congress.

Find out what happened, for two basic reasons. Hold accountable the people who violated the laws of the country and the trust of the people. Second, make it clear that such behavior will not be tolerated by future administrations. We all have the sneaking suspicion that where one administration ends, that is the starting point for the new gang in the White House, regardless of party.

Get to the bottom of fundamental assaults on American freedom and liberty. Dealing with this moral and legal trespassing is not a partisan issue.