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F.B.I. Is Said to Ask Senators for (Personal) Files in Hunt for Leaks
New York Times ^ | 8/23/02 | STEVEN A. HOLMES

Posted on 08/24/2002 2:40:02 AM PDT by kattracks


WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 — The F.B.I. has asked all 17 senators on the joint Senate-House intelligence committee to turn over appointment books, schedules, phone records and electronic calendars in an effort to determine if they may have spoken with journalists about classified intelligence information, Congressional officials said.

The request, first reported in The Washington Post, was made to the Senate counsel's office on Aug. 7, one Congressional official said, and was later forwarded to all of the Senate members of the committee.

The F.B.I. asked for records pertaining to the lawmakers' activities on June 18 and June 19.

The official said that to his knowledge, none of the House members of the committee received a similar request.

"They asked for a whole list of things, including electronic devices like Palm Pilots," the official said. "They were seeking anything that would indicate whether the senators or members of their staff spoke to reporters."

At the committee's request, the F.B.I. is conducting an investigation into accusations made by White House officials that someone affiliated with the committee leaked to reporters intercepts of telephone conversations by suspected members of Al Qaeda on the day before the Sept. 11 attacks.

The intercepts, made by the supersecret National Security Agency, but not translated until Sept. 12, included the remark, "Tomorrow is zero hour."

Paul Anderson, a spokesman for Senator Bob Graham, the Florida Democrat who is chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said that his boss "would comply with any request" regarding the records.

Earlier this month, the F.B.I., as part of its investigation, asked members of the House-Senate committee if they would be willing to submit to polygraph tests, a request that upset many lawmakers and produced a flurry of anguished concerns about separation of powers. But the F.B.I. never followed through on the request, officials said.



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: condidit

1 posted on 08/24/2002 2:40:03 AM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks
I wonder if they're going to look at one senatecritter who's a known leaker...Leahy(D)-VT.
2 posted on 08/24/2002 2:54:17 AM PDT by Keith in Iowa
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To: Keith in Iowa
You can bet "Leaky" is not the only one. You can also bet the truth will never come out of this either.Clinton/Gore already sold everything to China and the rest of the pols just keep them and others updated!
3 posted on 08/24/2002 3:03:28 AM PDT by gunnedah
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To: kattracks
In April of this year, a poll indicated some 72% of Americans believe a Democrat would leak confidential material provided to them.
4 posted on 08/24/2002 3:11:10 AM PDT by Liz
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To: kattracks
Is it possible that Biden talks during his hair transplant sessions?
5 posted on 08/24/2002 3:14:09 AM PDT by Highest Authority
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To: Highest Authority
.....I gather you mean besides him saying, "Ow, that hurt"...........
6 posted on 08/24/2002 3:54:39 AM PDT by Liz
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To: Keith in Iowa
You mean Leahehehehehe, he is a joke and leaked before. Hey, it was them who said 'come on in, look at us'.
7 posted on 08/24/2002 4:14:54 AM PDT by gulfcoast6
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To: gulfcoast6
The IRS plus the FBI should be able to keep these fools under control.
8 posted on 08/24/2002 5:11:31 AM PDT by meenie
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To: kattracks
The F.B.I. has asked all 17 senators on the joint Senate-House intelligence committee to turn over appointment books, schedules, phone records and electronic calendars....

Yeah? Lotsa luck getting that on. The FBI better get back to its time-tested traditions of wiretaps and informants.

America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
New Link: Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)

9 posted on 08/24/2002 5:19:26 AM PDT by JCG
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To: kattracks
These motormouths aren't even required to go through backround checks before they're allowed access to this stuff. I think the blackmail risk is even greater than the risk posed by their uncontrolled verbal flatulence.
10 posted on 08/24/2002 5:21:56 AM PDT by mewzilla
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To: Keith in Iowa
I wonder if they're going to look at one senatecritter who's a known leaker...Leahy(D)-VT.

Leaky Leahy is not on the committee. He was thrown off when he was caught leaking.

Notice that the article mentions the Joint House-Senate Intelligence Committee. Yet they're only asking the Senators. Does that mean that they've narrowed the leak down to the Senators - and that they've excluded the House members?

Curious.

11 posted on 08/24/2002 5:26:58 AM PDT by jackbill
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To: kattracks
I personally think there is too damn much so called secrecy
The public has a right to know what the hell the government is doing
12 posted on 08/24/2002 5:27:40 AM PDT by uncbob
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To: Keith in Iowa
I don't think Leahy is on this committee. He was kicked off, because of his previous behavior.
13 posted on 08/24/2002 5:32:38 AM PDT by aristeides
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To: jackbill; *condidit
They've excluded Condit?
14 posted on 08/24/2002 5:34:07 AM PDT by aristeides
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To: aristeides
My top three suspects are (in no particular order): Durbin, Bayh, and Levin.
15 posted on 08/24/2002 5:35:16 AM PDT by mewzilla
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To: aristeides
Condidit wouldn't spill to the press. He'd be providing the info to our other enemies. And Condidit is the posterchild for why Sens and Congress critters should have to pass thorough backround checks before they're allowed to see this stuff.
16 posted on 08/24/2002 5:38:16 AM PDT by mewzilla
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To: uncbob
Historically, there has always been secrecy within the government and for a reason. It's like showing all your cards to your opponent (terrorists or Iraq or whatever).

We have someone who is showing our cards and he/she has to be stopped. Classified information is not for public perusal.

BE WISE!

Sac

17 posted on 08/24/2002 5:41:45 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: mewzilla
Durbin is up for reelection this year, isn't he? He might have reason to curry favor with the media. (Commie Levin is up for reelection too, but I think his seat is regarded as a safe one.)
18 posted on 08/24/2002 5:42:11 AM PDT by aristeides
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To: kattracks
Leaking classified info to the press is against the law. Although I wouldn't put it past a Democrat Senator on the committee to leak to the press, I doubt he/she would leave a trail of the misdeed. What's more likely is that the Senator would leave the info in a spot where a staffer would see it and the staffer leaks it.

Are staffers allowed to be in the briefings? Anyone know?

19 posted on 08/24/2002 5:57:36 AM PDT by randita
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