Posted on 12/22/2005 10:33:26 AM PST by 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 I mean, they should have been revoked at the time of the leak."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."
I am extremely pessimistic about them doing anything to upset the apple cart. Hell, Kerry's very existance in the House and then the Senate in direct opposition to the Constitutional prohibition against it shows that they don't give a crap.
So, they leaked this story a year ago, it is right out there in black and white, but the Justice Department hasn't decided whether or not to pursue the matter?
What the hell is wrong with these guys? Two years and millions of dollars spent on a bogus leak dreamed up by the media, but a major and deliberate leak of a black op isn't worth looking into?
A.G. Gonzalez, please check your pager.
I think the DOJ will need to hire a bunch of new folks just to investigate all the lefties and their criminal acts against this country.
Why haven't we even heard of this investigation? It's being investigated and will be kept secret due to National Security. There's lots that take place hidden from us 'cause of National Security.
I'd just like to hear Chris Matthews even talk about it.....has he? Has anyone?
I think this is way beyond whatever Sandy Burglar put in his pants... not that I excuse him, but these jerkoffs are putting every one of us in danger in their quest to retake the senate majority and bring down the President.
Ping.
Why, the alien rectal probe of course.
Doesn't mean one thing about the July date. Geeezzz thats only 4-5 months ago. You better have ALL DUCKS in a row before getting several senators for a major felony...treason. Wonder when these senators will resign due to their family?
No probes. They did, however, find one of Janet Reno's thongs left behind during an especially wild "Winter Holiday" office party in 1995. Now, they're just waiting for Dubya to authorize its use during interrogations.
I pray that if they find anything (and I'll bet they do) that they prosecute to the max.
Serious subject...but thats LOL funny.
"The only question," [Babbin] 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."
Walker Spy Ring coming to mind for anyone?
I share your opinion. In any event, criminal charges against one or more 'rat senators would make me so very, very, happy...
It IS true, its a matter of public record..
Whether they get the Sandy Burgular treatment is the question..
Treason is only disallowed to taxpayers and republicans..
I know.
Would be fair to introduce them to he guys they're so adamant about defending.
*chuckle*
Once they're nice and aquainted, maybe after about a month or two, we drop them off into terrorist held territory.
If they can fast talk the badguys into letting them live by showing their solidarity with them, they might stand a chance.
Because that's kinder than anything I would have in store for them.
FYI. Hehehehe....
The article is dated July.....
Are the current squeals the result of someone being stuck?
That was 5 months ago, you'd have thought they'd have reported something by now or like so many other investigations against democrats, is this just going to be swept under the carpet hoping we'll forget about it?
Yeeeessss,
Thrown them in with the Rump Rangers.
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