Report: Justice Department Probing Durbin, Rockefeller CIA Leak

Newsmax.com ^ | July 23, 2005 | Carl Limbacher

[shield]

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."

Rockefeller is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and Durbin is the No. 2-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," Babbin 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 I mean, they should have been revoked at the time of the leak."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."

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Kick them out and put them in jail.

[JayAr36]

Going nowhere, Washington is all about CYA.

[misterrob]

CIA meaning that this came from Goss' office? I can't see any other way given the amount of leaks that come out of there. Justice should be investigating the CIA as well.

[Mo1]

I posted this on the Rush Thread


Hey Rush

Nice Catch on the NYT article regarding the FISA Judge who just retired and Rockefeller being the possible leaker's

143 posted on 12/22/2005 1:17:16 PM EST by Mo1

[Travis McGee]

Wall. Cigarette. Blindfold.

[ncountylee]

after they are sitting in a federal pound-me-in-the-arse prison.

If convicted, they would go to a Club Fed. But that's a nice image.

[anoldafvet]

I don't want to be a wet blanket, but remember Sandy Burglar?

[Mo1]

CIA meaning that this came from Goss' office?

Looks that way

[Darksheare]

Arrest them, and send them to Gitmo.
Cubicle them with Omar the Mad Terrorist, the one who bites and throws poo.

[Big Horn]

The more punishment for these traitors, the better.

[shield]

These investigations aren't completed overnight this kinda a stuff takes time lots of time. This is on-going today. Gonzales said they didn't know if they'd investigation the latest leak. Trust me it's taking place.

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Tell them to bend over.

[auto power]

.....and therein is the leak....they should be thrown in prison...

[RetiredArmy]

Does "Rocky" now get a "Leaky" title like Leaky Ley has?

[Mo1]

Yes I know .. I'm just itching for some information about this

I am sick of these leaks that put our lives in danger

I want to see these traitors in jail

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

"I am sure Chris Matthews will be all over this."

We'll see how the shoe fits when it's on the other foot.

I'm sure Chrisy Matthews will say it's the Republicans using the Justice Department to go after their political adversaries.

[marlon]

"Rats sincerely believe that laws are only for Republicans, and that rules do not apply to democrats."

And more often that not they're right. I would be willing to bet this investigation will go nowhere and will not even make it into the press. I'd probably take it one step further and say that there will be no investigation as the Justice Dept will refuse to start one.

So while I share the sentiments of you all I just don't share the euphoria as I have no confidence that a Demo/socialist will ever be made to pay for their unAmerican, traitorous, subversive activities...see Kennedy, Kerry, Durbin, Rockefeller, Dodd, Leahy, Toricelli. etc., etc. for proof.

[jacquej]

Um, does it mean anything that the date on that article is from last summer sometime?

[DarthVader]

They should be hung by the neck until they're dead!

[PogySailor]

IMHO, they could be getting close to laying charges. What better way for Rockefeller to muddy the water by getting the NYT to do this NSA hit piece. If the JD charges him, he'll start yelling that he's being targeted because of his problems with that program.