Wiretap Recorded Rep. Harman Promising to Intervene for AIPAC

CQ Politics ^ | April 19, 2009 | Jeff Stein

[Lorianne]

Rep. Jane Harman , the California Democrat with a longtime involvement in intelligence issues, was overheard on an NSA wiretap telling a suspected Israeli agent that she would lobby the Justice Department reduce espionage-related charges against two officials of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, the most powerful pro-Israel organization in Washington.

Harman was recorded saying she would “waddle into” the AIPAC case “if you think it’ll make a difference,” according to two former senior national security officials familiar with the NSA transcript.

In exchange for Harman’s help, the sources said, the suspected Israeli agent pledged to help lobby Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., then-House minority leader, to appoint Harman chair of the Intelligence Committee after the 2006 elections, which the Democrats were heavily favored to win.

Seemingly wary of what she had just agreed to, according to an official who read the NSA transcript, Harman hung up after saying, “This conversation doesn’t exist.”

Harman declined to discuss the wiretap allegations, instead issuing an angry denial through a spokesman.

“These claims are an outrageous and recycled canard, and have no basis in fact,” Harman said in a prepared statement. “I never engaged in any such activity. Those who are peddling these false accusations should be ashamed of themselves.”

[bossmechanic]

You are gonna have to educate me on palis - I have zero idea of what you’re talking about.

[markomalley]

…not that I'm in favor of Jane Harmon or approve what she did (in offering to intervene for ANY foreign government, no matter which one)…

…and not that I'm in favor of the NSA wiretapping US citizens (particularly an NSA run by the Ø administration)…

…and not that I'm in favor of such an operation being released to the press in any regard…

…but I find it really interesting that her name got released in talking to an Israeli spy, while the name of the Congressweenie who was in contact with an extremist with terrorist ties as part of a Congressional delegation to the Middle East in 2005 and 2006 that we heard about a few days ago has yet to be released.

[SeaHawkFan]

Could you at least link us to the right thread?

[darth]

I think the story release is about the Pelosi-Harman rivalry and the building of an anti-Israel climate so the Left can justify betraying our strongest ally in the Middle East. That said, in my aerospace career I encountered and reported attempted espionage by many allies including Israel, France, Japan, Taiwan, and India. Even the UK used intel for political purposes. I’m sure we do the same to them. It helps to keep in mind that all countries have national and economic interests.