I felt the same way when I heard President Bush's press conference on Monday, when I believe he made this statement. Although I am not an attorney, I have held clearances and understand there are laws about never disclosing national secret information and that to do so is a felony. I detected a rather "harsh" Bush during this conference and although he skirted the reporters direct question about whether DOJ has instituted a criminal investigation I thought I detected in his words and tone that one was either under way, or commencing. I can only hope that Congresscritters are not afforded special treatment - I want these guys to hang just like Aldrich Ames did. I also want the NYT to hang, because there can be no doubt they knew they were publishing secret informant ion. No doubt about it, and that cannot be their defense. This is nothing like that bogus Valerie Flame incident - this is serious and someone is going to have to hang. I want the NYT to go down as bad as I want a Congresscritter's a$$.
THE PRESIDENT: Let me start with the first question. There is a process that goes on inside the Justice Department about leaks, and I presume that process is moving forward. My personal opinion is it was a shameful act for someone to disclose this very important program in a time of war. The fact that we're discussing this program is helping the enemy.
And so the Justice Department, I presume, will proceed forward with a full investigation. I haven't ordered one, because I understand there's kind of a natural progression that will take place when this kind of leak emerges.