Posted on 02/13/2013 5:32:27 PM PST by drewh
(CNSNews.com) - Sen. Richard Burr, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said that the CIA has “flatly refused” to give some Benghazi-related documents to the committee, which is conducting an investigation of the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attacks on the State Department and CIA personnel and facilities in Benghazi, Libya.
Sen. Burr made the assertion last week at the confirmation hearing for John Brennan, whom President Barack Obama has nominated to be director of the CIA. Brennan currently serves as the president's counterterrorism adviser.
“Mr. Brennan, as you know, the committee's conducting a thorough inquiry into the attacks in Benghazi, Libya,” Sen. Burr said. “In the course of this investigation, the CIA has repeatedly delayed and in some cases flatly refused to provide documents to this committee.”
None of the other members of the committee contradicted Burr’s assertion.
Burr’s Spokesman David Ward later told CNSNews.com that the committee had initially requested the documents in question four months ago.
In light of Burr’s statement, CNSNews.com put some questions to the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) James Clapper. Specifically, CNSNews.com asked: Is it true that the CIA, or any agency under the umbrella of the DNI, has withheld documents, or refused to provide documents, to the Senate intelligence committee that the committee has sought in its investigation of Benghazi? If the administration withheld documents from the committee, on what basis did it do so? And if the administration withheld documents, who was responsible for making the decision to do that?
The ODNI responded with a statement. “Since the attack on our facility in Benghazi, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, on behalf of the entire Intelligence Community, has worked closely with members of Congress to respond to all requests for information,” said the statement. “We have testified before committees and delivered numerous briefs, provided thousands of pages of intelligence data and answered hundreds of written questions. DNI Clapper values the strong relationship between the IC and members of Congress and remains committed to being responsive to the requests of our oversight committees.”
At the time of the Benghazi terrorist attacks, Gen. David Petraeus was director of the CIA. When Petraeus appeared at his confirmation hearing in the Senate intelligence committee on June 23, 2011, Chairman Dianne Feinstein asked him a set of questions that the committee routinely asks those nominated to run the CIA. At John Brennan’s confirmation hearing on Feb. 7, Feinstein asked Brennan exactly the same questions.
Feinstein asked Petreaus, “Do you agree to provide documents or any other materials requested by the committee in order for it to carry out its oversight and legislative responsibilities?”
“Yes, I do,” said Petreaus.
“Will you ensure that the CIA and its officials provide such materials to the committee when requested?” asked Feinstein.
“I will,” said Petreaus.
“Do you agree to inform and fully brief to the fullest extent possible all members of this committee of intelligence activities and covert actions rather than only the chairman and vice chairman?” asked Feinstein.
“Yes, I do,” said Petraeus.
Last week, John Brennan was equally direct in answering these questions.
Feinstein asked Brennan, “Do you agree to provide documents or any other materials requested by the committee in order for it to carry out its oversight and legislative responsibilities?”
“Yes, all documents that come under my authority as director of CIA, I absolutely will,” said Brennan.
“Will you ensure that the CIA and its officials provide such materials to the committee when requested?” asked Feinstein.
“Yes,” said Brennan.
“Do you agree to inform and fully brief to the fullest extent possible all members of this committee of intelligence activities and covert actions rather than only the chairman and vice chairman?” asked Feinstein.
“Yes, I will endeavor to do that,” said Brennan.
Later in the same hearing, however, when Burr asked Brennan about the documents Burr said the CIA was refusing to give to the committee, Brennan qualified his answer—leaving open the possibility that as CIA director there may be occasions when he would decline to provide documents to the committee.
“Mr. Brennan, as you know, the committee's conducting a thorough inquiry into the attacks in Benghazi, Libya,” said Burr. “In the course of this investigation, the CIA is repeatedly delayed, and in some cases, flatly refused to provide documents to this committee. If confirmed, will you assure this committee that this refusal will never happen again?”
“I can commit to you, Senator, that I would do everything in my ability and my authority to be able to reach an accommodation with this committee that requests documents, because an impasse between the executive branch and the legislative branch on issues of such importance is not in the interest of the United States government,” said Brennan.
“And so it would be my objective to see if we could meet those interests,” Brennan continued. “At the same time, our Founding Fathers did sort of separate the branches of government; judicial, legislative, and executive. And so I want to be mindful of that separation, but at the same time, meet your legitimate interests.”
In November, three days after the federal elections, Gen. Petraeus suddenly resigned as CIA director. At the time of Petraeus’s resignation it was revealed that an FBI investigation had discovered that he had been committing adultery with his biographer, a reserve Army officer
When will someone ask Brennan about his conversion to Islam and can he be ‘fair and balanced’ in his prosecution of the War on Terror???
He just said he'll TRY to. That means this moon-barking muzzie can do NOTHING at all, and later claim he TRIED to comply.
So it means nothing, and that is what we got.
The list, Ping
Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list
Yes, I reviewed the Youtube video after I realized that Brennan is a Muslim. In Zero Dark Thirty, there is a scene where one of the actors goes into an office in the CIA and the man in the office is kneeling on a prayer rug. He gets up, rolls up the rug and sits down to chat. That is Brennan. I am perplexed why this hasn’t come up in the confirmation hearings
So the CIA can openly give the finger to the US senate intelligence committee? Zero out their budget, every damned dime, until they learn that they are not a shadow government.
The Constitution does allow for sone documents to be withheld from congress.
In NO case does it allow them to be withheld without providing a reason.
Same thing happened in the gun-running case- they wouldn’t even provide a reason.
Time for Congress to play hardball. There’s plenty of funding to be withheld from those insolent jerks. Does the CIA still have an office researching Global Warming? X it out.
When I was in the Army we sure knew that Congress could ruin our day.
Dawn Sept. 8, 2012 Pentagon JSOC attack on al-Qaeda cell near Benghazi file.
So the CIA can openly give the finger to the US senate intelligence committee? Zero out their budget, every damned dime, until they learn that they are not a shadow government.
In NO case does it allow them to be withheld without providing a reason.
Same thing happened in the gun-running case- they wouldn’t even provide a reason.
Time for Congress to play hardball. There’s plenty of funding to be withheld from those insolent jerks.
TREASON - continuous, pre-meditated, agenda-driven, agency-abetted, unquestioned, ongoing...
Three branch separation of power has become a long train of abuses...triangulation by totalitarians.
--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
The CIA has been a rogue agency since it was formed by the FDR commies in WW2. It should be destroyed as it has become more dangerous than any other enemy.
I would posit that the nazi elite who are at the core of the CIA - see Operation Paperclip - can run entirely on the billions it makes in the drug operations it runs without need for Congressional money or oversight.
This is how you know they are playing you for chumps. They don't really want this information made public or anyone really made to pay the price. It's the same way with professional wrestling...dude in the tights doesn't really want to hurt the other guy in the ring. It's all for show. Same thing with holder on fast and furious. They could shut down entire agencies but they never will. But this dog and pony show sure helps with campaign fundraising and keeping the fools distracted.
Sen. Burr: CIA Has ‘Flatly Refused’ to Give Intel Committee Some Benghazi-Related Documents
Ping.
Totally agree - pro wrestling.
The Dems and Rs in DC are just playing intramural sports. They are the 2 side of the political class.
They fear a true grass roots party, which is why they attack the tea party with their propaganda arm, the MSM.
He ‘sort of’ left out coequal.
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