Historical clue formulations

• Worked for the C.I.A., perhaps — 2025-01-01
• Worked as a secret agent — 2021-04-27
• Observed secretly — 2020-05-18
• Secretly watched — 2020-01-15
• Was an agent, say — 2019-10-03
• Gathered intelligence (on) — 2018-05-20
• Invaded someone's privacy — 2015-05-14
• Laid eyes on — 2012-04-27
• Bugged, with "on" — 2006-12-29
• Emulated 007 — 2003-10-13
• Used a peephole — 2002-01-02
• Went undercover — 2001-12-21
• Looked in (on) — 2000-09-05
• Did some scouting — 1998-07-12
• Used binoculars, maybe — 1997-10-21
• Did moles' work — 1996-08-21
• Did "Mission: Impossible" work — 1996-07-03
• Snooped — 1994-12-05