Posted on 04/20/2009 6:57:25 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Report: Jane Harman recorded vowing take action for AIPAC on wiretap @ 9:33 am by Jeremy P. Jacobs
Congresswoman Jane Harman was recorded on a NSA wiretapped conversation agreeing to work to downgrade espionage charges against two officials of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in return for help securing the chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee, according to Jeff Stein's anonymously sourced column in Congressional Quarterly.
Harman, a California Democrat, was allegedly recorded in a conversation with a suspected Israeli agent. The conversation reportedly took place before the 2006 election, when Democrats seized control of the chamber and, therefore, the committee chairmanships.
It was widely reported at the time that Harman wanted to chair the Intelligence Committee but was passed over by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for Rep. Silvestre Reyes, a Texas Democrat. An FBI investigation was launched at the time into pro-Israel lobbyists seeking to influence Pelosi to give Harman the chairmanship.
The story alleges that then Attorney General Alberto Gonzales compelled the FBI to end the investigation in return for Harman defending the administration's wiretapping program.
Harman wholeheartedly denied wrong doing in a statement to the publication. "These claims are an outrageous and recycled canard, and have no basis in fact," she said. "I never engaged in any such activity. Those who are peddling these false accusations should be ashamed of themselves."
It is unclear from the story whether Harman knew she was talking to a "suspected Israeli agent."
In addition to these developments, the story touches upon the implied power of the Israel lobby, which, if this is all true, Harman believed could effectively lobby Pelosi for the chairmanship.
It does not appear that Harman was the member of Congress that the New York Times reported last week that the NSA attempted to wiretap.
Two more points of interest: That the NSA was listening to a member of Congress on its wiretaps is, by itself, newsworthy enough. But now, the fact that they are leaking the transcripts is mind boggling.
You people are missing the story here: Alberto Gonzalez bribed a sitting Congress critter to keep her hands off the EEEEvil practices of the Bush administration! /sarc (I think)
Watch and see - THAT will be the point that the MSM try to cover IF they cover this at all!
Thanks for the reply. That’s why I think this story is really weird.
Almost all bloggers I’ve read seem to believe that the story is at least partly true. This despite the fact that it is quoting anonymous sources describing a non-published recording.
OK, I understand that there was an investigation against the congresswoman in 2006, so she has been suspect.
However, why would the Israeli (American?) influence agent believe that she had power to influence the court case against the AIPAC employees?
And why would she believe that this man or the organization he represents (represented) had power to influence the Democrats to such an extent that she would be guaranteed a chairmanship in the intelligence Committee?
Sounds pretty far-fetched to me.
What is less far-fetched is that the case against the two AIPAC men is very weak and they may very likely end up acquitted. Is it just pure coincidence that this anonymous story appears just before the trial is about to start?
As always: Cui bono?
ScaniaBoy: What is less far-fetched is that the case against the two AIPAC men is very weak and they may very likely end up acquitted. Is it just pure coincidence that this anonymous story appears just before the trial is about to start?Rmlew: Was this aiding and abetting enemies in time of war? I think not. An "Israeli agent" asked a Congresswoman to take another look at the spy charges against 2 American citizens who were entrapped by the CIA and FBI. The Franklin case has Americans, who were leaked classified intel on an enemy of the United States (Iran), leaking part of it to the press.
Yes, the AIPAC case is very weak, I’m a bit surprised Justice followed through under GWB. In addition, it involves a “crime” that’s committed hundreds of times per year, but is being prosecuted for the first time under a near century old law. Now, of course it’s a potential embarrassment to the GOP and the evil Bush administration. Rosen claims to have made 3 calls, to the White House, the Israeli Embassy and the Washington Post, in that order. Obviously the conversation with the White House is highly relevant. In addition, nearly 2 dozen Bush officials, Condi the highest, have been subpoenaed, the questioning expected to revolve around their use of third parties, like Rosen, to leak classified information to the press. If true, needless to say those administration officials should be jailed. Unlike the AIPAC duo, they had a clear obligation not to disclose classified information. And if the Israeli “spy” is Haim Saban, this devolves into the GOP using the Justice Department for clear political purpose. So no, the timing might not be accidental.
Still, the accusation and the governments actions are extremely serious. The nature of the case against Harmon should be disclosed.
Aldrich Ames couldn't have imagined a better assignment than conducting the investigation and damage assessment of Pollard.
OK, I’ll give it to you. We’ll see how Reyes does. My first impressions were:
1. Since Pelosi disliked Harman immensely, it stood to reason there must be something good about Harman! By analogy, if Pelosi liked Reyes for the job, it was hard to imagine anything good about the man.
2. I’ve seen Harman on C-Span and Sunday chat-shows when she was ranking member of the Intel Committee. She said all the right things, at least.
3. Don’t be too impressed by a congrescritter’s national service record. George McGovern, John Murtha, Randy “Duke” Cunningham and John McCain all have admirable military records—but look at how they turned out as politicians!
They maybe thought the ends justified the means...they needed support for the wiretapping bill in Congress, and they probably figured if they could keep in eye on Harman’s activities (someone else noted the surveillance may not have ever stopped, even though the investigation did), the problem was easily controlled. Harman never got an appointment at the CIA and never got the Chairmanship of the intel committee. They must not have counted on this eventually coming out...oops. In the end, no one got what they wanted. This is an interesting story; it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
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