Congress calls for leak investigation: Presidential reprimand moves representatives to action

MSNBC ^ | 20 July 2002 | Andrea Mitchell, Alex Johnson

[for-q-clinton]

I guess we'll need another congressional investigation to investigate the investigation.

It's pretty ironic how an investigation into intelligence failures is full of intelligence failures from the people who are supposed to be investigating.

[PhiKapMom]

As I understand it, the Intelligence Committee members have to sign a document saying they will not divulge classified information. That is the reason Leaky Leahy was kicked off the Intel Committee -- he leaked classified information which was against the law but he was not removed back in the late 80's from the Senate and the people of Vermont didn't kick him out either!

I am trying to find if they truly do have to sign an oath or if that is just a rumor!

[PhiKapMom]

I was wondering that same thing -- I thought it was to be Committee Members only and not their staffs. But that seems hard to fathom because some of these folks couldn't operate without the staff telling them what to do.

[PhiKapMom]

It's pretty ironic how an investigation into intelligence failures is full of intelligence failures from the people who are supposed to be investigating.

I just had to bump that statement because it says it all!

[for-q-clinton]

Be careful with our assumptions. I wouldn't put it past a republican to have done it. Ideally I'm hoping for a RAT, but republican's have done this sort of thing before. It makes them feel special when they give info to a reporter. And they are dumb enough to leak it to CNN thinking they will get good coverage from them in the future for helping them out.

On a slightly different topic, did you know Fox News actually had this story first; however, they kept the actual message under wraps because they didn't want to help the enemy. So I guess we can all assume what this says about CNN.

[for-q-clinton]

I personally think it deserves the quote of the day :-)

[mystery-ak]

You are correct...Carl Cameron reported this tonight...in fact I thought Carl said he himself was contacted...in that case Carl knows who the leaker is.

[ReaganIsRight]

We had a president, first lady and still have several members of congress who couldn't qualify for DOD clearance. What part of "commie-demoncrap" don't you understand?

These aren't the same D's who fought in WWII, these are the draft dodgers from the Vietnam era.

There's a Kennedy in MD running for governor who is dumber than doorstop, and with all the dead voting she may win. The D's stole the election in 1996 by fraud, what will stop them this year?

[Fracas]

The fact that Leahy was not prosecuted is what leads me to think there is no actual oath - that (like so many other things!) it seems so reasonable that we just assume it's a fact.

I see a later post also points out my concern - that it could be a Republican. I know it's Machiavellian, but this is politics (grin). The reasoning would be that the WH and Conservatives would assume it was a Democrat, thereby removing suspicion from Pubbies.

Also, I find it very odd that ONE leaker would give a scoop to both CNN and FOX.

[PoppingSmoke]

"Carl Cameron was talking about this today. Apparently a lot of media had the information, but they were asked not to reveal the phrases because the use of those phrases would let the perps know when and where they were heard."

O I see! The press had this CLASSIFIED information and were asked not to go to press, yeah? Three questions arise. 1. Wno in the press has a clearence to have this information anyway? 2. This leak was known to authorities and no action was taken before today and it is fine for the press to have it as long as they do not go to press with it, forget bar talk? and 3. Since when is the press accountable to the government?

Like I said this is politics at its finest! I wonder if this was actually leaked by the committee in the first place?

[aristeides]

That means Fox News knows who the source of the leak is.

Makes you wonder, though. Would a Dem leak to Fox?

[PhiKapMom]

I think it deserves the quote of the day too! I loved it.

I looked over the Republicans on the committees and I cannot see where any of them would have leaked. Hatch has already been in trouble and is the reason I ruled out Feinstein. Also ruled out a lot of the DemocRATS on the House Intelligence committee.

As far as I know, Hatch is the only Republican that leaked before and he was chastised so much I cannot feature him doing it again.

Edwards is suspected of leaking last Fall and seems to be all over the place touting himself. Believe whoever it is should be removed from the Congress period! Let the chips fall where they may but they have no business being a Member of Congress and if their staff leaked -- they should resign for picking the wrong people!

[FlyVet]

This in incomprehensible to me that a member of Congress leaked this information after Senators Graham and Shelby, and Reps Goss and Pelosi guaranteed there would be no leaks.

The fix is easy, but don't hold your breath. When these critters take office, they swear to the same oath as military people do. If I would have leaked classified info during my service, I would have been subject to fines, loss of rank, and imprisonment. These morons get a free pass, not even a slap on the wrist. "Bad boy, don't do that again!" just doesn't cut it. If they leak, fine them and/or throw them in jail, depending on the severity of the leak. End of leaks. But, don't hold your breath on that one.

[Right_in_Virginia]

"I cannot see him (Shelby)leaking to the press even though he has not been happy."

I agree, if only because he has nothing to gain by doing it.

[PhiKapMom]

My understanding is that an oath was required by the Intel Committees after Leaky Leahy but I am still researching to find out. I will call an aide tomorrow and ask if I cannot find out.

[PhiKapMom]

Am not holding my breath either. I was AF Civil Service and took an oath and when I left Civil Service had to sign a form saying I would not divulge any classified information that had been in my possession under penalty of law. And then they handed me a copy for my files.

[philetus]

If they find him, he will probably be put on probation at the millionaires club for a month. That will teach him.

[PoppingSmoke]

"That means Fox News knows who the source of the leak is. Makes you wonder, though. Would a Dem leak to Fox?"

BINGO! YOU GET A COOKIE! FOX, MSNBC and a few others. Cameron was pissed that he got scoped! Here is the real question. The Government knew the press had the data and asked them not to go to press. If this was critical classified, hush, hush, mush, mush stuff, why didn't the government take action a WEEK AGO?

Why? Politics of national security.......Keep on grazing sheeple!

[FlyVet]

had to sign a form saying I would not divulge any classified information that had been in my possession under penalty of law. And then they handed me a copy for my files.

We all did. And it shows the poor quality of some elected people. Their need to blab is ingnorant and incompetent, and shows no regard for the consequences. Like, getting a lot of of good men and women killed, and megabucks' worth of hardware lost. They make me sick. Where do I line up for a free slap across their stupid heads?

[Fracas]

AFTER Leahy! Why am I not surprised? LOL.

I made a couple of calls, too, and the response was interesting...'well, I'm SURE it's an oath...well, I THINK it's an oath...well, I'll check'.