Daemonocracy
20-10-2006, 21:02
The Democrats are pretty ticked off about this, especially Jane Harmon, the Intelligence Committees top Democrat. Thing is, she released the Cunningham report before the rest of the committee had agreed to do it and there is good reason to suspect this staffer and to have a quick investigation of his actions. leaking classified documents is a serious offense, especially when it is a selective leak for political purposes. Jane Harmon has no problem playing politics, but apparently she doesn't like it getting shoved back in her face.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061020/ap_on_go_co/congress_leak_6
WASHINGTON - Democrats say the Republican head of the House Intelligence Committee had no grounds to suspend a staff member who’s come under scrutiny for the leak of a secret intelligence assessment.
The unidentified staff member, a Democrat, was suspended this week by Chairman Peter Hoekstra and is being denied access to classified information pending the outcome of a review. In an interview on Friday, Hoekstra said the step was the least aggressive he could take while the committee investigates.
The Michigan Republican said the committee aide will be interviewed and other information will be collected. That could include correspondence, phone records and interviews with people who interacted with the aide. For now, Hoekstra said, he has not involved the FBI, which would normally handle investigations into leaks of classified material.
“We ought to be able to resolve this very, very quickly,” he said.
The Intelligence Committee’s top Democrat, Jane Harman of California, wrote to Hoekstra that she was “appalled” by his action, which was “without basis.” She has demanded that Hoekstra “immediately reinstate the staffer’s access to classified information.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061020/ap_on_go_co/congress_leak_6
WASHINGTON - Democrats say the Republican head of the House Intelligence Committee had no grounds to suspend a staff member who’s come under scrutiny for the leak of a secret intelligence assessment.
The unidentified staff member, a Democrat, was suspended this week by Chairman Peter Hoekstra and is being denied access to classified information pending the outcome of a review. In an interview on Friday, Hoekstra said the step was the least aggressive he could take while the committee investigates.
The Michigan Republican said the committee aide will be interviewed and other information will be collected. That could include correspondence, phone records and interviews with people who interacted with the aide. For now, Hoekstra said, he has not involved the FBI, which would normally handle investigations into leaks of classified material.
“We ought to be able to resolve this very, very quickly,” he said.
The Intelligence Committee’s top Democrat, Jane Harman of California, wrote to Hoekstra that she was “appalled” by his action, which was “without basis.” She has demanded that Hoekstra “immediately reinstate the staffer’s access to classified information.”