At CIA Director George J. Tenet's request, the Justice Department is looking into an allegation that administration officials leaked the name of an undercover CIA officer to a journalist, government sources said yesterday.
At the same time, officials confirmed that Mr. Tenet had asked the Justice Department to look into whether one or more administration officials had leaked information to the news media disclosing the identity of a covert operative.
"The only way an investigation can begin is if the agency swears — swears — that it took every conceivable step to protect this person’s identity.” For example, the CIA had to answer 11 specific questions about what steps it took to protect the identity of a covert agent.
The heads of departments and agencies with organizations in the Intelligence Community or the heads of such organizations, as appropriate, shall:
(a) Report to the Attorney General possible violations of federal criminal laws by employees and of specified federal criminal laws by any other person as provided in procedures agreed upon by the Attorney General and the head of the department or agency concerned, in a manner consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods, as specified in those procedures;
(b) In any case involving serious or continuing breaches of security, recommend to the Attorney General that the case be referred to the FBI for further investigation
It was Tenet.
72 posted on 10/21/2005 10:47:24 AM PDT by advance_copy
(Stand for life, or nothing at all)