Posted on 07/23/2005 10:34:08 AM PDT by wagglebee
The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into whether Democratic Senators Dick Durbin, Jay Rockefeller and Ron Wyden leaked details about a secret "black ops" CIA satellite program last December in a move that may have seriously compromised national security, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Jed Babbin said on Saturday.
"The CIA made a request to the Justice Department to investigate and possibly bring criminal charges against these three [senators]," Babbin told WABC Radio host Monica Crowley. "My information is that investigation is ongoing."
Mr. Rockefeller is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and Mr. Durbin is the number two ranking Democrat in the Senate.
Media reports on the satellite leak last December indicated that the Bush administration was concerned about public comments by Durbin, Rockefeller and Wyden and that the CIA had requested a Justice Department probe.
"The formal request for a leaks investigation would target people who described sensitive details about a new generation of spy satellites to The Washington Post, which published a page-one story about the espionage program Saturday [Dec. 11, 2004]," a Justice Department official told the Associated Press at the time.
But the same official told the AP that Justice "has not decided whether to investigate."
Former Deputy Undersecretary Babbin's comments on Saturday were the first indication that such a probe was actually launched and is ongoing.
"The fact of the matter is that [Durbin, Rockefeller and Wyden] divulged something that was above and beyond top secret and frankly, they probably blew the strategy and the hundreds of millions of dollars that were being spent to pursue it," he told Crowley.
"The acknowledgement of [the "black ops" program's] existence is not even proper and the acknowledgement of them and the details of them can very well damage national security," Babbin added.
Asked if he thought the three Senate Democrats should have their security clearances revoked for the duration of the leak probe, the former Defense Department official said, "Absolutely and forthwith. I mean, they should have been revoked at the time of the leak."
"There's really not much doubt about the leak having occurred," Babbin told Crowley. "It's in the press records, it's in the Congressional record. We know what they did."
"The only question," he explained, "is how much damage was done by the leak. And that's part of the criminal investigation right now - to do a damage assessment, to figure out how much this is going to cost us strategically and militarily."
The allegations HAVE BEEN MADE! That's (dimwitocratically speaking) enuf!
"And don't forget to frog-march them out in cuffs and chains."
Next, get leaky Leahy and that murderous Kennedy.
Wasn't it the IL-GOP who ran out their last good candidate, because he had propositioned his wife?
These "boys" have motives that are as pure as the wind driven snow.....
There ARE some good folks than could run including Ray LaHood. Theynjust ca't get it together.
just googled Jay Rockefeller for latest news....this article from Newsmax seven hours ago is the only thing being reported on....
I am glad to see this White House knows how to play hard ball. It's about time.
bump
Actually, all the more reason to strengthen the Patriot Act. Why should senators have access to sensitive info, especially the Dem senators. Let's plug the dyke once and for all.
Fritz's investigation is being held up by Miller and "my friend hillary" Cooper. They're asking the full appellate court to reverse the criminal contempt order. Until Miller and Cooper talk, we wait.
This fits the classic Dem pattern... When a Dem accuses someone of something(ie. Rove) they are guilty of the same offense only 20 times worse. They only make a stink when they have something to hide.
Yes
Don't hold your breath waiting for the NY Times to report it. If they do, it will be on page A-17. No room above the fold on page 1 since the Rove story is permanently in place there.
Oh my my ..
Its about time!!!!
IF so, BRAVO!
I agree with you at #11; its frustrating as hell!
Your statement follows:
"The Republicans ALWAYS let these matters slide. I use to think it was because they always took the higher road, but now I'm not so sure they aren't worried about a tit-for-tat war starting. Nonetheless, What they haven't figured out, is that the dems will ALWAYS take the low road and with the msm being solidly in their court, the Pubbies better figure out soon to get serious really quick about the slime to destruction attitude and start fighting back asap."
A certain amount of access is necessary for them to do their jobs.
Who's telling them?
This one was given to them through official channels. Few things are in the deep, deep ops portion of the budget, meaning Senators are told a certain amount of classified info so they can make purse string decisions about them. I think this "leak" was intentional, not accidental. It was a way for a tiny minority to determine policy, when a purse string strategy didn't work. IOW, they couldn't sell pulling funds from it just on it's cost, so made it less useful by blabbing about it.
The way Kerry outed that agent was so nonchalant, it's as if all this stuff is common knowledge among the left.
It's a Senate thing. Oversight of government agencies are another of their responsibilities. They need info about some of the inner workings of the agencies. It is supposed to prevent things like some top dog at State hiring his dim bulb mistress & putting her on a million dollar salary. Part of our "open" government is not open to the public, but open to others within government, in the hope that they will try to keep each other honest. Why are you laughing?
Fritz's investigation is being held up by Miller and "my friend hillary" Cooper. They're asking the full appellate court to reverse the criminal contempt order. Until Miller and Cooper talk, we wait.
I think Cooper spilled the beans, so we are only waiting on Miller.
Perhaps not so easy. Article 2, Section 6 of the Constitution reads...
They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
For discussion.
These democrats only hearings are a total joke, they should just come right out and label it for what it is, a Republican bash-fest.
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