Kean Interest

TAS ^ | 4/16/2004 | Tom Kean

[swilhelm73]

According to a Republican staffer on the 9/11 commission, growing public and pundit outrage over commissioner Jamie Gorelick's failure to disclose the existence of a Justice Department memo, had chairman Gov. Tom Kean asking Gorelick yesterday morning if she would think about stepping aside.

"The word is she was asked whether she might consider it and she flat out shut him down," said the staffer. "We're in an extremely difficult spot on this."

Gorelick's conflict of interest came to light on Tuesday afternoon, when a newly declassified 1995 Justice Department memo written by her when she was serving as Deputy Attorney General was presented to the commission by Attorney General John Ashcroft during public testimony. The memo, which mandated policy that, as it turned out, made it almost impossible for counter-terrorism investigators to pursue the 9/11 plot before it unfolded, surprised Gorelick's fellow commissioners and staff because, staffers said, she never disclosed its existence to any of them.

Kean's quiet attempt to press the issue on Gorelick's situation comes at a time when there were mounting calls for the former Clinton political operative to step aside from not only the House Judiciary Committee chairman James Sensenbrenner but families of 9/11 victims concerned that the commission's report would be tainted by her presence.

Those families were also calling for Gorelick to be called before the committee to explain her role in devising a legal impediment that contributed to the intelligence and law enforcement failures to combat and prevent terrorist acts.

But according to former Clinton staffers, it's doubtful Gorelick will budge. "She's on that commission for a reason, and it isn't because of her brilliant legal mind," says a former DNC and Clinton White House staffer. "She's there to make sure Bush and his team look as bad as possible and to protect the Clintons and Reno."

It isn't just Gorelick who is now in hot water. Based on their remarks on Wednesday and Thursday, both Kean and fellow commissioner, former Sen. Slade Gorton are taking heat from 9/11 families for telling critics during TV interviews to stay "out of our business."

Those remarks came in response to questions about Gorelick's conflict of interest.

"We've got to get these guys out of the limelight," says the Republican 9/11 staffer. "Kean has enjoyed the media spotlight a little too much. Remember, most of these guys are has-beens. They haven't experienced this much attention in years. In a matter of two days they have managed to undo six months of good work that was done under the radar screen. A few more days of this and the commission's work will be tainted."

[Dog]

fyi..

[Paulie]

Here is but one more chance for the Repubs to do the right thing for the country, namely, mounting a relentless push for her to step down AND make her testify under oath.

Message to all GOP'ers - The Dems hate you and they play by no rules. LEARN TO STREETFIGHT!

[cricket]

Am I missing something here; save that she is a Demrat?

By their own collective dishonesty and outright lies - Gorelick/Daschle/Clinton this woman is wedged into this Commission. And now that their ruse has been discovered; their partisan manipulations glaring; she is 'asked' but refuses to leave?

THROW HER OFF!

Do it now; and make sure she is the next to give public testimony/confession.

And put Daschle under the 'light' as well.

[swilhelm73]

Can you change the author from Tom Kean to The Prowler for me?

[clintonh8r]

Kean has no brain and no nuts. Obviously, Hillary! has his FBI file too.

[peter the great]

I was on the way home fighting traffic and listening to the Great Bob Grant and he gave us an assignment. That was to call the 911 commission and request Jamie Goerilick's removal. Unfortunately I was driving and did not have access to a pen and paper but I am sure someone else either heard the show or knows it and a little Freeper help on this would be appreciated.

[quark]

Kean = putz

[ChocChipCookie]

So what if Gorelick continues to refuse to step down? Is there any recourse for Kean or Congress? I think it's obvious by now that her purpose on the committee is to make sure that only a filtered "truth" comes out; one that makes the Clinton White House look good and does as much damage to Bush as possible.

[uncitizen]

Right on. If this were the other way around and Gorelick were a republican, the Dems on the committee would already have her head on a stick and accusing her of being a hypocrite and whatnot.

[VadeRetro]

"A few more days of this and the commission's work will be tainted."

Got a hot news flash for ya, Staffie. It's tainted now.

[Wolfstar]

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
301 7th Street, SW
Room 5125
Washington, DC 20407

Washington Office*
Tel: (202) 331-4060
Fax: (202) 296-5545 info@9-11Commission.gov

New York Office
Tel: (212) 264-1505
Fax: (212) 264-1595
info@9-11Commission.gov

Family Liason Office
Tel: (212) 264-1505
Toll-Free: 1-866-862-0556
Fax: (212) 264-1595
familyliaison@9-11Commission.gov

[Ann Archy]

Kean is a girly man...so is Slade Gorton...so is Lehman. PATHETIC!!

[Solamente]

RINO and failed bee-keeper Thomas Kean.

[meadsjn]

Am I missing something here; save that she is a Demrat?

Maybe -- considering that Gorelick sent the memo one day after being informed by a congressional task force that foreign intelligence had revealed an impending terrorist attack in the heartland of the US. The text of the memo clearly indicates that its purpose was to obstruct an investigation that was already underway that involved the sharing of information between foreign intel and criminal investigations.

Five weeks later, the OKC bombing occurred.

The Clinton administration put a lot of effort into (1) their personal war against white male conservative US citizens, and (2) protecting their terrorist accomplices.

[Ann Archy]

Gorelick is now the VICTIM! She says she's gotten death threats (probably from the Clinton's so she will NEVER testify) and hateful e-mails! Well, DUH!!...She was in charge of things that made it EASY for the terrorists to thrive here!!

[BlessedByLiberty]

And put Daschle under the 'light' as well...

A full court press should be started to get Mrs. Little Tommy Daschle to testify about her airline lobbying and how that effected airliner security.

[mrtoby]

Thank you for posting the address of the Commission in DC. I will send them a handwritten letter asking for Jamie Gorelick's resignation and ask everyone I know to do the same. I have a birthday coming up and this will be their present to me.

[okie01]

"I think it's obvious by now that her purpose on the committee is to make sure that only a filtered "truth" comes out; one that makes the Clinton White House look good and does as much damage to Bush as possible."

Precisely. The Commission has already said that they will seek unanimity on any conclusions and recommendations.

Consequently, Gorelick is there to "hang" the jury.

[Gritty]

"The word is she was asked whether she might consider it and she flat out shut him down,"

I guess there's no doubt who wears the pants on that Commission, is there?