DEEPER CIA LINK BY 9/11 PANELIST - GORELICK

New York Post ^ | 4/16/04 | BRIAN BLOMQUIST

[kattracks]

April 16, 2004 -- WASHINGTON - New questions surfaced yesterday about 9/11 commissioner Jamie Gorelick's potential conflicts of interest after it was revealed she was more deeply involved in anti-terror efforts than has previously been known. Records obtained by The Post show that Gorelick, while serving in a top job at the Justice Department, met every two weeks with George Tenet, then the No. 2 official at the CIA, and headed then-Attorney General Janet Reno's national-security team.

[Bryan24]

Taken from a page on the ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL SECURITY ALUMNI. A link is provided at the bottom of this page. Jamie Gorelick is associated with this group.

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[ride the whirlwind]

Bump

[kinsman redeemer]

Your question reminds me of the leaked Dem strategy memo (December '03??) that talked (among other things) about their ability to produce a minority report.

The memo I am referring to was first publicised by Sean Hannity and included a suite of tactics that would be used to improve their candidate's chances for success in November '04.

Remember that we all said, "We need to keep an eye on them and resurface this memo whenever they try any of these strategies in the future."

I may have missed it, but I have seen no reference to this landmark document at all in the past few months.

Thanks for listening.

[turbocat]

Member of the ANSI....JAMIE S GORELICK

WOW

[engrpat]

Seems it might be a bad email address. Comcast says it isn't a valid DNS destination. Is there another address?

[Colonel_Flagg]

I could have him confused however.

You wouldn't be the only one. Looks like it's pretty easy to confuse Tom Daschle. :)

[Bryan24]

Testimony Concerning Counterterrorism Legislation
by Jamie Gorelick
United States Deputy Attorney General

June 12, 1995

Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, I appreciate the opportunity to testify before you today on your bill, H.R. 1710, the "Comprehensive Anti terrorism Act of 1995." The tragic bombing of the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City on April 19 underscores the need for swift action by both the Executive and Legislative Branches to ensure that our law enforcement agencies have the legal tools and resources to investigate, prosecute, and deter terrorist activity, both at home and abroad.


When I appeared before Mr. McCollum's Subcommittee on Crime on May 3, I stressed that the threat posed by terrorism required the Administration and the Congress to work together in a bipartisan manner to achieve a tough, comprehensive, and effective response. This bipartisan approach has resulted, already, in the passage of impressive anti-terrorism legislation in the Senate which contained virtually every proposal put forth by the President.

The Administration remains equally committed to working with the House to move effective anti-terrorism legislation, with broad, bipartisan support, to the House floor and to the President's desk as soon as possible. And, as we proceed through the remaining, sometimes difficult, stages of the legislative process, we must not lose sight of the critical fact that we all share a common goal in this effort, and that the matters on which we differ are far, far outweighed by those upon which we agree.

The Administration's bills contain a total of 38 legislative proposals. All but five of those proposals are addressed in Chairman Hyde's bill, in identical or substantially similar form. Both bills:

-Create broad-based Federal criminal jurisdiction for terrorism crimes

-Expand jurisdiction of the United States courts to cover terrorism cases outside the United States where the victim or perpetrator is a U.S. national

-Ban financial support to foreign organizations which the President has designated as terrorist organizations

-Require, in foreign counterintelligence investigations, the disclosure of certain consumer credit reports, as well as access to common carrier, public accommodation, storage rental and vehicle rental records upon the presentation of an administratively obtained National Security Letter

-Permit the use of "pen register" and "trap and trace" devices in foreign counterintelligence cases under the same standard as those devices are currently available in routine criminal cases

-Authorize the use of "multi-point" wiretaps when the subject of an investigation, by frequently switching phones, avoids surveillance pursuant to a standard, single-point wiretap

-Permit the use of existing "emergency wiretap authority" in terrorism cases

-Expand penalties for transferring firearms or explosives knowing they will be used in a crime of violence

-Allow the military to provide assistance to civilian law enforcement personnel in dealing with chemical and biological weapons,

-Require a study of the addition of taggants to explosive materials to permit post-explosion tracing, and

-Increase protection for federal employees and their families

And I'm pleased to note that this is only a partial list of the provisions those two bills have in common.

Keeping in mind the overwhelming similarity between our approaches, let me summarize briefly how our bills differ. First, there are five provisions which appeared in the Administration proposals but which are not a part of Chairman Hyde's bill:

(1) the addition of terrorism offenses as predicate acts under the RICO statute;

(2) amendment of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to facilitate enhanced anti-terrorism training to appropriate personnel of other nations;

(3) authority for the government to seek a court-ordered wiretap in any felony certified by the Attorney General to be related to terrorism; and

(4) authority for the Secretary of Treasury to promulgate regulations prohibiting the possession or transfer of explosive materials without taggants

(5) an increase in the time period within which criminal prosecutions can be initiated under the National Firearms Act, making the statute of limitations for the illegal use of machine guns and bombs as long as the statute of limitations for the misuse of the Smokey the Bear logo. We believe that each of these provisions is meritorious, and we would encourage the Committee to consider adding them to H.R. 1710.

Second, H.R. 1710 includes a few legislative provisions that were not in the Administration's proposals. Three new provisions in the area of criminal law and procedure relate to enhanced sentencing for certain explosives offenses; directions to the Sentencing Commission for a guidelines adjustment relating to domestic terrorism; and a technical amendment to the existing pretrial detention statute relating to the computation of time deadlines. The Administration welcomes each of these additions and joins with you, Mr. Chairman, in supporting their enactment.

H.R. 1710 also includes several new provisions related to immigration law. Five of those provisions focus specifically on alien terrorists --

-Providing funding for the detention and deportation of such aliens;

-Denying asylum to such aliens;

-Denying certain other forms of immigration relief to alien terrorists; and

-Providing "special attorneys" in alien terrorist deportation or exclusion proceedings who will serve as an aid to the court in handling and interpreting classified information when an unclassified summary of the evidence against the alien is not provided to the alien.

-Providing for the exclusion of those who are merely members -- as opposed to representatives -- of designated foreign terrorist organizations, along with Attorney General authority to waive the provision.

The Administration also joins in general support of these provisions, although in some cases, certain minor modifications to these provisions would be beneficial. For example, the funding for detention and deportation of alien terrorists would more appropriately be made available to the Justice Department as a whole, rather than the Immigration and Naturalization Service, since many of the costs of such activity extend to various Justice Department components along with the INS.

The remainder of the new immigration provisions contained in H.R. 1710 are not terrorism-specific, but rather would relate to immigration matters generally. Specifically, one section would provide for an expedited exclusion process that is similar to that proposed by the Administration. We believe our approach, under which the Attorney General has the discretion to impose expedited exclusion for extraordinary migration situations, addresses the need for an expedited process while limiting the effect that a universally applied process would have on INS asylum officer resources.

Another section of the Chairman's bill would fundamentally reform the "entry" doctrine which controls the extent of procedural rights that aliens receive in exclusion and deportation proceedings. We support the notion of amending the "entry" distinction between deportation and exclusion proceedings, but this is not an easy change. It should be accompanied by a number of conforming amendments to other sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act, some of which raise policy implications. Such an amendment would eliminate relief from deportation currently available to aliens who have developed significant ties to the United States over a long period and whose removal would work a hardship in U.S. citizens or permanent resident relatives. It may be appropriate to carve out an exception for the most compelling of those situations, for example, where the alien came to the United States as a child. In addition, some changes should be made regarding judicial review and the permissibility of aliens who would be subject to exclusion to depart the United States voluntarily without the need for a hearing.

We understand that the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims is preparing a bill that may address this issue in a more comprehensive way. Given the difficulty of the issues involved, we suggest that this amendment is better addressed in the context of a broader immigration reform bill.

Finally, I would like to focus briefly on the few areas of real, substantive difference which exist between the Administration's proposal and H.R. 1710. First, while both Chairman Hyde's bill and the President's proposals criminalize the provision of material support to presidentially designated terrorist organizations, the Administration's proposal also provides a procedure under which U.S.-based fund raisers for foreign terrorist organizations could raise funds for certain humanitarian or charitable purposes pursuant to a licensing scheme. An additional benefit of such a provision is that it will assist in monitoring of fund-raising in the United States by some terrorist organizations. With respect to the designation of terrorist organizations for the purpose of fund raising restrictions, the Administration believes that such a designation is better made as part of the new fund raising restriction provisions, rather than as an amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The Chairman's bill and the Administration proposals also both provide authority to access common carrier, public accommodation, storage facility, and vehicle rental facility records through the use of a National Security Letter in foreign counterintelligence cases. The Hyde bill adds a requirement that these records be publicly disclosed within 180 days. Such a requirement jeopardizes lengthy, ongoing investigations and the Administration strongly urges that it be dropped.

Next, HR 1710 lacks a definition of the terms "national security" and "terrorist". We recommend the use of the definitions for these terms contained in the Administration's proposals.

Finally, there are a few areas of difference between H.R. 1710 and the Administration's program with respect to funding. Your proposal, Mr. Chairman, authorizes appropriations for enhanced funding only of FBI operations relating to domestic and international terrorism. We have proposed additional authorizations for costs which will also be incurred by the Criminal Division and the United States Attorneys offices around the country.

In addition, as is reflected in our supplemental appropriation request, we also support the establishment of a counter terrorism and counterintelligence fund under the direct control of the Attorney General, rather than a particular Justice agency. Such a fund would provide her with the authority to reimburse any Justice agency or component that incurs costs in response to a terrorist activity.

I also would like to address the need to provide an assured funding source for the Administration's digital telephony initiative. We need to ensure that law enforcement will continue to have access to court authorized interceptions of communications. On that front -- at the urging of the President -- Congress last year passed the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, which authorized the Government to cover the costs incurred by the telecommunications carriers to retrofit their equipment. In the President's counter terrorism legislation transmitted to Congress we proposed a 40% surcharge against all non-lRS civil monetary penalties to pay for this cost. After a thorough review, we believe this legislation can withstand any constitutional challenges, and we urge your support for this funding mechanism.

It is clear from this brief comparison of the Administration's anti terrorism proposals with H.R. 1710 that the overwhelming substance of the respective proposals is consistent and that there is sound basis for the prompt enactment of comprehensive and effective anti terrorism legislation. In my testimony today, I have suggested some potential improvements to the Hyde bill which we hope you will consider. Other, more technical proposed amendments, will be submitted in writing shortly and in all likelihood can be resolved at the staff level.

To conclude, Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for this opportunity to address this issue and for the spirit of cooperation you have shown throughout this process. We look forward to working with the Committee and the Congress to achieve the prompt enactment of comprehensive and effective antiterrorism legislation.

[holden]

Assuming Reno was just the DOJ figurehead, to what extent was it actually Gorelick and/or Eric Holder pulling the Waco (and FEMA and FBI (Wesley Clark)) strings? Were Jamie and Eric two of Hildabeast's unknown, direct, secure cell phone numbers?

HF

P.S. Gee, I guess that would answer why Bill felt he only needed to meet with Tenet twice. HillBilly didn't want to sully their bona fides with the Lefty friends, after all.

[maica]

RINO Kean defended Gorelick as "one of the hardest working members of the panel..."

This is the point that keeps jumping out at me.

This Commission has been reviewing 'over a million documents" and interviewed 'more that 80 witnesses' since its inception.

I bet those decrepit men have left this 'heavy lifting' to eversohelpful Ms Gorelick. If they turn on her now, their own slackness will be exposed. She has them in a classic bind.

We just have to work to discredit ANY validity of reporting to come from this commission.

Also, she has probably made the bulk of decisions on which of those million documents and hundreds of hours of testimony will actually be presented to the other commissioners, and to the final report.

[Fracas]

Thanks for the correction. My former AIR FORCE OFFICER husband reminded me of same.

[Bryan24]

Check out this news release, it will answer your questions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DAG
WENDSDAY, JANUARY 15, 1997

GORELICK TO LEAVE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT


Jamie S. Gorelick announced today that she will be resigning from her position as Deputy Attorney General to return to private life. Gorelick said she will remain in office long enough to help Attorney General Janet Reno assemble a team to lead the Department in the Clinton Administration's second term.

As the Justice Department's number two official since March 1994, Ms. Gorelick has served as the Department's chief operating officer, provided overall supervision of the Department, and functioned as the direct manager of its law enforcement components. She is one of the longest serving Deputies in the Department's history, and second woman ever to hold the position.

"Jamie brought tremendous managerial skill, brilliant legal ability, and great sensitivity to an extremely difficult job," said Reno. "Her contributions to the Department are incalculable, and I will miss her greatly, both as a colleague and as a friend."

As Deputy Attorney General, Gorelick introduced new
managerial structures to guide the Department in the midst of a 30 percent increase in the Department's personnel and a 70 percent budget increase during her tenure.

One of Ms. Gorelick's principal priorities was to help
prepare the Justice Department to be able to respond effectively to the new challenges of transnational crime and terrorism. To do this, she forged new relationships and administrative protocols with the Departments of State, Treasury and Defense, and with the intelligence community.

The Deputy Attorney General also worked with the
Department's law enforcement components to better respond to
crisis situations in the aftermath of the incidents at Ruby Ridge and Waco. After the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City in April 1995, she coordinated the government's overall response to the bombing and supervised the investigative and prosecutorial response to the crisis.

"In all of her work with law enforcement," Reno added,
"Jamie displayed a sensitivity to the civil liberties of our
citizens that gave comfort to all of us who care deeply about the Constitution."

Gorelick added, "I want to express my gratitude to the
President, for giving me the opportunity to serve this great
Department, and for his commitment to protecting the American people and their liberties. And I want to thank the Attorney General for her friendship, and for leading this Department with unmatched integrity and a commitment to the highest principles of justice."

Before joining the Department of Justice, Gorelick served from May 1993 to April 1994 as General Counsel of the Department of Defense. As General Counsel, she supervised the government's second-largest "law firm," consisting of 10,000 lawyers.

Gorelick, 46, is a former partner in the Washington law firm of Miller, Cassidy, Larocca and Lewin, and a former President of the District of Columbia Bar. She graduated from Harvard College in 1972, and from Harvard Law School in 1975. She is married to Richard Waldhorn, M.D., and has two children.

[Bryan24]

I heard one report that said she was the only Commission member to actually read the classified PDBs. She made notes for the others.

[Fracas]

Yes he did. Tommy needs to cultivate a new crop of friends, IMO.

[Fracas]

LOL! You're right. Maybe that's where Tommy learned how to find those 'secret' Indian votes.

[maica]

The Association of National Security Alumni is an organization that seeks to expose and curtail covert actions because they "are counter- productive and damaging to the national interest of the United States, inimical to the operation of an effective national intelligence system, corruptive of civil liberties, ... and they contradict the principles of democracy, national self-determination and international law to which the United States is publicly committed."

Member of the ANSI....JAMIE S GORELICK


@@@

This makes my skin crawl!

[maica]

You can demand that the Congress and the President and your community open a dialogue on abolishing the CIA in the post-Cold War era.
@@@

I wonder if Dick Clarke is a member?

[Lady Jag]

And here she is, folks!

Whoopie Gorelick!

[Bryan24]

I can't verify that she is a member. Her name popped up in relationship to ANSI. I'm still looking. Want some more stuff on her?

I found this from Mary Mostert, Analyst, Original Sources (www.originalsources.com)

_______________________________


In 1996 Bill Clinton told reporters he was "not told about the June 1996 FBI warnings of Communist Chinese involvement in the 1996 presidential election." However, it was later learned that president Clinton not only KNEW about it, but that he subsequently made a thwarted attempt to obtain the counterintelligence information about what the FBI had learned of the Communist Chinese influence on the presidential election in November of 1996. Charles Ruff, Clinton legal counsel who most recently defended him in the Senate Impeachment trial, made the FBI contact. Ruff contacted Janet Reno's deputy Jamie Gorelick and wanted to know what federal investigators knew or suspected about Chinese illegal contributions to the presidential campaign.

However, when FBI director Freeh learned of the White House probe by Gorelick, he ordered the information not be provided to Clinton, federal law enforcement officials told the Daily Republican in 1997. In a New York Times story Ruff was quoted as telling Gorelick he was seeking the information on behalf of the National Security Council. Ruff said at the time that there was nothing improper about his contacts with the Justice department. The Times story depicted Clinton's probe to obtain the secured FBI files as a written request marked TOP SECRET. Ruff said in an interview, 'This was a matter being dealt with by the National Security Council in its capacity as adviser to the president.'

However, law enforcement officials pointed out that Ruff's request was received only after FBI director Freeh had left Washington on a trip to the Middle East. In his absence, attorney general Janet Reno and Gorelick quickly moved to obtain the secret FBI files. Before the Justice Department turned over the FBI files to Clinton's legal counsel, Robert Bryant, then head of the FBI national security division, picked up the telephone and informed Freeh of Clinton's probe for the secret files on the Chinese investigation. Freeh ordered the files withheld.

And people wonder how come the Senate of the United States was never able to get Janet Reno to obey the law of the land and appoint an independent counsel to investigate the Chinese money that helped get Clinton and Gore elected.

[maica]

Yes - I have heard that as well. A sound decision if she had been a talented, experienced, honorable, non-partisan lawyer.

Just a little detail that will further diminish the egos of those pompous overthe hill RINOs on the commission.

[maica]

Before joining the Department of Justice, Gorelick served from May 1993 to April 1994 as General Counsel of the Department of Defense. As General Counsel, she supervised the government's second-largest "law firm," consisting of 10,000 lawyers.

###


Can anyone explain why the DOD needs 10000 lawyers?