F.B.I. Is Said to Ask Senators for (Personal) Files in Hunt for Leaks

New York Times ^ | 8/23/02 | STEVEN A. HOLMES

[kattracks]

ASHINGTON, 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.

[Keith in Iowa]

I wonder if they're going to look at one senatecritter who's a known leaker...Leahy(D)-VT.

[gunnedah]

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!

[Liz]

In April of this year, a poll indicated some 72% of Americans believe a Democrat would leak confidential material provided to them.

[Highest Authority]

Is it possible that Biden talks during his hair transplant sessions?

[Liz]

.....I gather you mean besides him saying, "Ow, that hurt"...........

[gulfcoast6]

You mean Leahehehehehe, he is a joke and leaked before. Hey, it was them who said 'come on in, look at us'.

[meenie]

The IRS plus the FBI should be able to keep these fools under control.

[JCG]

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)

[mewzilla]

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.

[jackbill]

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.

[uncbob]

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

[aristeides]

I don't think Leahy is on this committee. He was kicked off, because of his previous behavior.

[aristeides]

They've excluded Condit?

[mewzilla]

My top three suspects are (in no particular order): Durbin, Bayh, and Levin.

[mewzilla]

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.

[Sacajaweau]

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

[aristeides]

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.)

[randita]

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?