'Leaky Leahy' Suspected in Leaked 9-11 Committee Report

newsmax ^ | 8/28/02 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

A day after a draft copy of the Senate Judiciary Committee's report on pre-9-11 intelligence failures was leaked to the New York Times, conservative media leader Rush Limbaugh called for the resignation of committee chairman Sen. Patrick 'Leaky' Leahy, D-Vt., because of his history of leaking classified material to the press.

"There's no way that Patrick Leahy ought to be chairing this committee considering that it receives classified information and oversees the FBI's counterterrorism activities," Limbaugh told his audience near the top of his Wednesday radio broadcast.

"You remember Patrick Leahy," he reminded. "He had to resign from the Senate Intelligence Committee some time ago now for leaking a draft report about the Iran-Contra matter to the media."

The radio host was referring to the worst scandal in the Senate Intelligence Committee's history, where Leahy was compelled to confess that he had allowed an NBC News reporter to review the top secret Iran-Contra document after denying previous reports that he was a chronic leaker. [See: 'Leaky Leahy'].

"I doubt the release of this report was authorized," Limbaugh observed about the latest Leahy connected leak. "Otherwise, why would the people releasing it want their names kept secret?"

In its report on the leaked material the Times noted, "A draft copy of the [9-11] report was provided to the New York Times by Congressional officials on condition that they not be identified."

The document leaked by Leahy's committee concentrated on FBI intelligence lapses during President Bush's first eight months in office.

"I mean, look, if Leahy is not fit to sit on the Intelligence Committee, what business does he have running the Judiciary Committee," the conservative talker maintained. He noted also that Leahy has a long history of opposing the Bush administration for partisan reasons.

The Leahy committee document was leaked to the Times just days after the FBI intensified it's probe into earlier Senate leaks of classified 9-11 material.

After requesting last month that senators involved in the 9-11 probe take lie detector tests, the FBI asked 17 senators to turn over phone and computer records this weekend.

Because none of the senators were identified by name, it's not clear whether Leahy was among those targeted by the request.

[cake_crumb]

"If this is the case, than Rumsfeld and Tenet ought to withhold information from Congress in order to protect our national security interests."

Nah...it'd backlash against the administration, which some people will blame no matter what evidence there is to the contrary, and we'd be hearing more whining about "police states" and "the FBI is illegally holding Arab foreign nationals with green cards"....then it would get even more tiresome than it already is.

Rush is right: the blame rests on Leaky, and we should concentrate on him - as well as the partisanship leader, Tommy Thumb.

[FreeTheHostages]

Bump!

[jackbill]

Either I'm confused or Limbacher is. I'll bet it's Limbacher.

The leak that the FBI is investigating has to do with information from the NSA - not a "leaked committee report". The 17 Senators that the FBI is requesting documentation from are all members of the Senate Committee on Intelligence. Leaky Leahy is not a member of that committee - and for good reason.

[rhombus]

Ummm... as people with security clearances know it is illegal to let someone else see classified material. I am sure that we ordinary citizens would be prosecuted.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

GW should forget about discussing Iraq options with the Hill until we know who the leakers are.And perhaps a few indictments of Senators might discourage this sort of behaviour.

[MattinNJ]

Whoever leaked information that endangered our troops, Republican or Democrat,should be hanged for treason in a public square.

[cake_crumb]

The president is outnumbered by the enemy in the Senate. The Clinton propaganda machine is still rolling...maybe burning a little oil and leaving a few clouds of black smoke out of the tail pipe, but still running pretty well nonetheless.

With each and every "I voted for Bush, but never again" post I see....I see the support he needs in order to get anythng done disappearing.

Some will say, "well, it's his fault for not being stonger" or "not being conservative enough for me" or "overspending" or for the "illegal skirmish in Afghanistan"....to them, I'd like to point out that what progress the president has made, education, changing Forestry policy, writing policy to stop the EPA from stealing anyone else's water, cutting taxes, etc., he has made with the staunch support of the sectors of the public who were desperately concerned with these things throughout the fiasco of the Clinton administration.

Snarling hatefully will only divide all of us again, making us easy prey for another Clinton administration. Standing together, and calmly, reasonably, rationally and clearly stating our case will....otherwise we send mixed signals to an administration which wants to help us but, distracted by war and enemies within, needs our help in order to help us.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

MEMBERSHIP
	DEMOCRATS		REPUBLICANS
	Bob Graham, Florida Chairman		Richard C. Shelby, Alabama Vice Chairman
	Carl Levin, Michigan		Jon Kyl, Arizona
	John D. Rockefeller, West Virginia		James M. Inhofe, Oklahoma
	Dianne Feinstein, California		Orrin Hatch, Utah
	Ron Wyden, Oregon		Pat Roberts, Kansas
	Richard J. Durbin, Illinois		Mike DeWine, Ohio
	Evan Bayh, Indiana		Fred Thompson, Tennessee
	John Edwards, North Carolina		Richard Lugar, Indiana
	Barbara Mikulski, Maryland

[Oldeconomybuyer]

You are NOT confused.

[Shermy]

Orrin Hatch, come on up!

Rumsfeld's scolding directed at Hatch 9/13/01

[Cachelot]

Hehehehee. Told ya'll a certain leak a little while back had all the markings of a Canary Trap ;).

[Fixit]

Sometimes I find inspiration in the strangest places.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

"..is that the President with his 'new tone' as shown yesterday with the Clinton pardons, will not punish these wrong doers. He would rather not rock the boat."

What the WH did yesterday was to cover themselves from future prying by the liberal media and the Dems,but unfortunately, they were drawn into another of Clinton's messes. If the WH gave JW the info they wanted on Clinton, they would have to give JW and anyone else, lots of behind the scenes info from the Bush White House-from terrorism to war plans. Can't do one,without doing the other. As for Bush giving Clinton a pass on the pardons-the Marc Rich pardon investigation is still ongoing,I believe.But,I have zero hopes for anything coming of that, as you need proof of bribery and these crooks cover their trails very,very carefully. Doubt the feds can get the airhead ex Mrs Rich to flip-she may be dumb,but she's not stupid. You have to know that the prosecutors know in their gut that there was a quid pro quo for the pardons,but getting cooperation from witnesses, is another thing. The Clinton's and their ilk have a tougher code of Omerta than the Gambino family.The Washington Times had an article on June 21, that there was a major Interpol investigation into Russian money laudering and Marc Rich's name had come up-wouldn't it be great if they could get him to flip on Clinton?!!. I think that Clinton has been absent from the Sunday talk shows, because he doesn't want to answer any questions about the Rich pardon-which shows that he is worried.I'll keep a little bit of hope alive.

[deport]

Either I'm confused or Limbacher is. I'll bet it's Limbacher.

The leak that the FBI is investigating has to do with information from the NSA - not a "leaked committee report". The 17 Senators that the FBI is requesting documentation from are all members of the Senate Committee on Intelligence. Leaky Leahy is not a member of that committee - and for good reason.

Yes the Limbacher article is confusing....... The FBI is asking for data on the following group unless this article is in err.....

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 — The FBI has intensified its probe of a classified intelligence leak, asking 17 senators to turn over phone records, appointment calendars and schedules that would reveal their possible contact with reporters.

IN AN AUG. 7 MEMO passed to the senators through the Senate general counsel’s office, the FBI asked all members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to collect and turn over records from June 18 and 19, 2002. Those dates are the day of and the day after a classified hearing in which the director of the National Security Agency, Lt. Gen. Michael V. Hayden, spoke to lawmakers about two highly sensitive messages that hinted at an impending action that the agency intercepted on the eve of Sept. 11 but did not translate until Sept. 12.

The request suggests that the FBI is now focusing on the handful of senior senators who are members of a Senate-House panel investigating Sept. 11 and attend most classified meetings and read all the most sensitive intelligence agency communications. A similar request did not go to House intelligence committee members.

[Mo1]

Not you aren't confused .. but I also wouldn't be surprised to hear he is involved somehow ..

What's that saying about loose lips sink ships

[Keith in Iowa]

It's very likely that one of the Democraps on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence gave Leaky info they had learned and he in turn spilled the beans to the press.

[deport]

If that's the case then there are two Senators that need to taken up the river of no return

[Keith in Iowa]

If that's the case then there are two Senators that need to taken up the river of no return

Won't happen...if Das'hole is still in charge in January - he'll do nothing; and if the Republicans take over the Senate, Lott & his merry band of eunuchs will do nothing, because they don't have the stones.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Rush is Right.

[mware]

A day after a draft copy of the Senate Judiciary Committee's report on pre-9-11 intelligence failures was leaked to the New York Times, conservative media leader Rush Limbaugh called for the resignation of committee chairman Sen. Patrick 'Leaky' Leahy, D-Vt

I listened to Rush today. Leahy is chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Judiciary was in charge of this report which I understand is scheduled to be released later next month.