Hoekstra suspends House staffer over possible NIE leak
posted at 11:23 pm on October 19, 2006 by Allahpundit
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We’ve been waiting for the Great Leak Crackdown of ‘06 since, literally, the day this site debuted. This ain’t it, but it’ll do for now:
House Intelligence Chairman Peter Hoekstra has suspended a Democratic staff member because of concerns he may have leaked a high-level intelligence assessment to The New York Times last month.
In a letter obtained by The Associated Press Thursday night, Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., a committee member, said that an unidentified staffer requested the document from National Intelligence Director John Negroponte three days before the Sept. 23 story about its conclusions.
The staffer received the National Intelligence Estimate on global terror trends on Sept. 21.
Is this a “good” leak or, a la Plame, a bad one? The world waits with bated breath for Josh “I question the timing” Marshall to deliver his verdict.
In the the meantime, here’s what the boss had to say last month on Fox, a few days after this story broke:
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Playing games with our countries security is a ball busting offense.
Give ME the pliers.
Mortis on October 19, 2006 at 11:24 PM
I think that it is time somebody’ ass get whooped for an apparent misbehavior. Suspension is not enough. They should debut treason charges.
Ouabam on October 19, 2006 at 11:33 PM
Well, well, well…a DEMOCRAT staffer
? I’m SHOCKED..SHOCKED I tell you…then again, perhaps not.
I hope this is just the beginning..a little FEAR up there about this kind of thing would be very very useful!
labwrs on October 19, 2006 at 11:37 PM
Rove has been expressing quite a bit of confidence that the GOP will hold both houses. I would not put it past him to have an October surprise of his own lined up. One where the lid get blown off all the sources and recipients of the politically-motivated security leaks would be a good one and hard to argue with from the other side.
Dems: “You timed this for your political advantage!”
Rove: “And what were you doing when you released classified information in violation of the law and at the risk of the national security?”
Mike O on October 19, 2006 at 11:38 PM
I’m going to go out on a limb here and bet that he’s not the only staffer and/or congresscritter that’s leaked like this for political purposes.
Call me Mr. Bold.
thirteen28 on October 20, 2006 at 12:29 AM
Is the U.S. Attorney’s office looking into this?
skwired on October 20, 2006 at 12:35 AM
So how many democrats will the media force to resign over this?
Iblis on October 20, 2006 at 1:13 AM
Suspended… SUSPENDED????
Is that all???
Arrest them; Try them.
If found guilty of treason, execute them. If found guilty of a lesser crime, then the appropriate prison time AND fines.
Or maybe they can offer a Sandy Berger type defense:
“Those documents climbed into my sox and skivvies by themselves and jumped out of there when I happened to be walking through the New York Times building.”
LegendHasIt on October 20, 2006 at 1:15 AM
Slow down LegendHaslt, that’s the type of rhetoric we hear out of the left all the time, when in the end GOPers, Rove, etc. are generally cleared. There’s an ongoing investigation. There’s no proof this guy leaked yet. As for Berger, he should have been held accountable a long time ago, that’s another story. He got a slap on the wrist and no one seemed to care what was in the documents he stole and destroyed.
RightWinged on October 20, 2006 at 1:47 AM
I’m with LegendHasIt, the key elements being:
The difference between us and the left-wingers is that we want the culprits punished appropriately after they’ve been proven guilty, as opposed to just wanting them destroyed because they’re our political enemies. But treason–during a time of war, no less–used to be taken seriously, as it ought to be. It’s about damn time they quit screwing around with these leakers and started putting the fear of God into them. And that includes Sandy Burglar, who shouldn’t get within shouting distance of classified material ever again.
Another difference between us and the Demorats is that we’d feel the same way if it were Republicans committing the leaks. I’ve got no use for any bastard who puts politics above national security. When you apply for a security clearance, there’s no form that says that you’re exempt from your obligation to keep these secrets if you don’t like the party in power. The intelligence community, like the military, should be apolitical. Unfortunately, the two parties aren’t exactly equal in their regard for national security, and the disparity has been growing steadily more apparent over time. But as corrupt and contemptible as that pig Clinton was (and is), does anyone remember any Republican leakers during the Clinton administration? I thought not.
ReubenJCogburn on October 20, 2006 at 2:50 AM
I hope the AG does do something. It’s about time these people be prosecuted and get whatever punishment decided. If not, then the only decision we women will have is blue burka or black burka today.
I guess the Republicans are held to higher standards because we have standards, the dims do not!
Catie96706 on October 20, 2006 at 3:02 AM
After I posted that, I had second thoughts, that maybe I was over-reacting.
Now that I think about it more…. I don’t think I over reacted at all, especially since I DID qualify it by calling for a trial and guilty verdict before punishment.
I’m so sick of these Washington creeps selling out the country and at the very worst getting a slap on the wrist.
If they have NO hard evidence that the guy actually leaked secrets, then by golly, they shouldn’t have said anything publicly about it at all.
If they merely suspected him, then they should have subtly isolated him from receiving critical information, but let him remain in place, while running a sting operation on him to see if he really is a traitor.
And if there was hard evidence, then by golly, he should have been marched out in cuffs, not merely given a paid holiday. (I’m assuming that in ‘washingtonese’ that suspended means a paid holiday…. That’s the way things usually work from what I’ve seen.)
LegendHasIt on October 20, 2006 at 3:29 AM
You need to read the article. All they’ve said is that this guy requested information so far. To make the leap that he was the leaker at this point would make us no better than lefties who insisted Rove was going down for the ridiculous Plamegate situation, etc. Don’t get me wrong, this guy probably did it, but for all we know at this point Pelosi did it. Ya know? Anyone who had access to the information is technically as likely to have leaked, though with a D next to their name alarm bells should go off. I just don’t want to go after this guy then look like an ass when it turns out it was someone else.
(some of that can be addressed to you as well LegendHaslt… again, you wanted this guy arrested and tried, but for reasons I just listed that’s a bit over the top. And don’t get me wrong here, I’m an “extreme” righty, but I just want to make sure this and the Berger situation are handled properly. Of course I think there are a number other leaks that ought to be investigated as well. We’ll see.)
RightWinged on October 20, 2006 at 3:53 AM
RightWinged,
I read the article before I commented the first time, and my opinion is the same as it was when I posted it. Simply put: Try them–which presupposes sufficient evidence to take them to trial, or there won’t be a trial–and if they’re found guilty, punish them appropriately. If they aren’t found guilty, then obviously you wouldn’t punish them. That’s hardly the liberalesque knee-jerk reaction you seem to be worried about. Seems more like common sense to me.
ReubenJCogburn on October 20, 2006 at 4:52 AM
This is very unimportant because we agree on this then, it would seem, RJC, but I’ve got to say still that my point was referring to you saying you’re “with” LegendHaslt, when he/she had just said:
But arrest this person for what? For requesting information? There is an investigation going on right now, and as far as we know, not evidence to warrant an arrest and trial. Again, this guy probably did it, though I’d bet an investigation would take us further to the top, and who gave the order. But that’s not the point. LegendHaslt was pissed that this guy has only been suspended and wanted him arrested, and you said you were “with” him. I’m just saying that’s jumping the gun. You’ve offered an explanation now that seems to go along more with what I’ve been trying to say, so I guess there isn’t much more to say.
RightWinged on October 20, 2006 at 5:12 AM
FWIW… I tend to lean toward RightWinged on this thread… Proceed, but proceed cautiously, (or perhaps a better word might be judiciously)… I, too, am tired as h_ll about all the apparently politically motivated “leaking” that has occurred of sensitive and classified information, but I don’t want to “rush to judgement.” Get the Justice Department cracking on it, and don’t “bury” the results, but make sure the “i’s” are dotted and the “t’s” are crossed. Make whatever falls out stick.
pda1415 on October 20, 2006 at 7:19 AM
Maybe the person can get Lynn Stewart to represent him/her if there is a trial. (I’m not holding my breath for a trial).
SouthernGent on October 20, 2006 at 8:13 AM
Hang him/her from the top of the Capitol Dome…and leave the corpse up there, so people may see it and know the fate of persons who play politics with our national security.
Abigail Adams on October 20, 2006 at 9:05 AM
So how many democrats will the media force to resign over this?
I’m guessing the MSM will be too busy trying to turn this jerk into a hero to be calling for any resignations.
Dave R. on October 20, 2006 at 9:28 AM
The next stage of the grand Roveian master plan has been set in motion. The final stage will be his greatest move ever..
madmonaco on October 20, 2006 at 9:52 AM
An alleged Democrat leaker?
I’ll anxiously await 24/7 coverage of this potentially damaging bombshell by Blitzer, Matthews and Olberdunce, and look forward to special in-depth nightly news investigations by Perky Katie, Charlie Gibson/Brian Ross and Brian Williams.
Expect Larry King to divert attention from the issue by inviting a special guest from This Old House to discuss what causes leaks and how to repair them.
As a side bar, has anyone else noticed that Pelosi, Reid, Kennedy, Durbin, Feingold, Schumer and other well known extreme lefty freaks haven’t stepped up to a microphone or stood before a camera for the last month? Why are these loudmouth Bush-bashers strangely silent in the lead up to the election? Maybe their walking around in those new cloaking devices. Truth is they can’t afford to pipe up so close to the elections, fearful that voters will have a lasting image of these raging lunatics, without a plan or a platform to stand on, only hate and a lust to regain power.
Another tell.
fogw on October 20, 2006 at 10:00 AM
Why am I not surprised that the leaker is a Democrat?
The disloyal party will do anything to regain power, even sacrifice the security of the nation in the process.
georgej on October 20, 2006 at 10:03 AM
Ol’ “Our troops killing in cold blood”/”Redeploy to Okinawa”/Unindicted co-conspirator Murtha’s been pretty quiet lately too.
ReubenJCogburn on October 20, 2006 at 10:14 AM
The dems are already going nuts over this guy being suspended. Jane Harman demanding his access to classified information be restored immediately? No worries about what kind of damage the leak may have caused though. Gotta love those priorities.
dementia unbound on October 20, 2006 at 11:33 AM
You mean since Congress went into recess…..When’s the last time you saw Frist or Hasbert?
honora on October 20, 2006 at 11:39 AM
My question is that when did the PRESS get to be above the LAW?
These reporters knowingly published classified material. They are complicit in a conspiricy. THEY should be hauled in and questioned. They do NOT have the right to cover up a felony, and possible treason.
Heck, they did it in the Plame case, but we sure don’t hear anything about it in these or other cases which DID hurt our national security.
Freedom of the Press means no prior constraint, not freedom from consequence or the ability to cover up a crime.
Romeo13 on October 20, 2006 at 11:54 AM
Sure thing honora, go on believing these folks aren’t before a mic or camera because they went on recess.
*chuckle* *snort*
fogw on October 20, 2006 at 12:35 PM
As Whittaker Chambers said of Alger Hiss and his supporters, “Innocence has no need for outraged shrieks; guilt does.”
But not to worry, if indeed it turns out that a donkey boy selectively leaked classified information for no higher purpose than to try to damage a Republican administration shortly before an election, he’ll be lionized in the media as a whistle-blower. And the donks will bray and jeer, Harry Reid-like, about how this is all a “Republican smear” meant to distract attention away from the Mark Foley “scandal.”
You can bank on it.
Spurius Ligustinus on October 20, 2006 at 12:38 PM
I’m going out on a limb here, but it’s likely that version that was released to the democrat staffer was unique in some form, and he or someone else made copies of it and distributed it to the press, who then published it verbatim, which quickly led the investigators right back to the person who requested it in the first place. If this is the case, charges are likely to be forthcoming.
Canadian Imperialist Running Dog on October 20, 2006 at 1:18 PM
Heh, CIRD, me thinks that you “misoverestimate” our politicos. On the other hand, you might have a good point, this being the Intelligence Committee. Here’s hoping,
Entelechy on October 20, 2006 at 1:39 PM
Let the hearings begin!
DannoJyd on October 20, 2006 at 1:57 PM
Whole lotta seethin’ goin’ on! Dems seethin’ over leakgate and the new terror ad. Muslims seethin’ over just about everything. There’s something about that damn George Bush that seems to bring out the seethin’ in jihadis and jihad enablers.
RedWinged Blackbird on October 20, 2006 at 2:06 PM
The leak is one thing but Democrats upset that their leaking ways have seemingly been stymied in this case, is really something else.
Jane Harman is appalled!
Opinionnation on October 20, 2006 at 2:20 PM
I have to agree with Romeo13 in that the way to deal with leaking classified material is to come down hard on whoever gets the material and publishes it. Treason is not a freedom of the press and putting secrets out in public is just another way of giving them to our nations enemies.
Buzzy on October 20, 2006 at 4:04 PM
Someone in the MSM knows this person’s name and for which Jackass he/she works. Why hasn’t this been made public?
chsw
chsw on October 20, 2006 at 5:55 PM
Well this IS news, actually SUSPENDING someone that’s a democrat operative for allegedly leaking classified material relating to national security??
I’m SHOCKED.
NTWR on October 20, 2006 at 6:02 PM
I’m shocked! Shocked! Well not that shocked. - Fry. Futurama
lorien1973 on October 20, 2006 at 6:30 PM
This doesn’t really pertain to the discussion but, does anyone know the names on the F.B.I. files found in the clinton Whitehouse? I’d like to know who they were. Just fishing.
tormod on October 20, 2006 at 7:33 PM
Can the MSMedia please paint all Dems with something that one of their lesser minions does… just this once? I mean, who knew what and when? How high up the party hierarchy dose this go?… These are the question that we must ask so as to imply that Dean, Kennedy, and Pelosi were in on the planning of the leak. We can worry about their possible ignorance of the whole thing later.
Just push a mic in their faces and (accusingly) ask… “Aren’t you actually part of the same organization as the as-of-yet unidentified national security information leaker???
Oh, I almost forgot to ask for resignations… Start at the top of the party and work your way down… say to dog catcher. They were all in on it.
RalphyBoy on October 21, 2006 at 12:13 PM
You all are a bunch of ding dong partisan dumb asses. Bush plays politics with National Security Intelligence every day. The Plame incident (you know, the one where he had an undercover CIA agent exposed so that he could go to war) wasn’t the least of it. Okay, suspend, fire, or arrest the staffer. That is fine with me. Arest him and the President, Cheney, and all the GOP blowhards that do the same thing to get them re-elected.
ps-you are all now free to pretend that the Plame thing didn’t happen, blame Democrats for N. Korea and all together counter my arguments by cutting and pasting them into you bblog.
shackler on October 21, 2006 at 12:22 PM
I knew when they opened up registration for posting priveleges here a couple of days ago that we would get some real moonbats.
LegendHasIt on October 21, 2006 at 3:56 PM
I hate to tell you but I have been around for a while. What’s the matter? Don’t like a variety of opinions?
shackler on October 21, 2006 at 5:56 PM
Problem about the Plame thing shackler was that it was ultimately her lame brained husband who outed her not the evil Karl Rove.
Catie96706 on October 21, 2006 at 6:17 PM
By golly, you have been around for a while.
Apparently I have previously just ignored you because most of your posts are merely juvenile.
The one of yours that caught my attention above is the first one I have seen that really stretches in to complete moonbat territory.
LegendHasIt on October 21, 2006 at 6:28 PM
“Ding dong”? Did you actually say “ding dong”? What are you, 7? And then you had the audacity to insult our intelligence?
We like a variety of opinions just fine. How about we take care of the smart ones, and you take care of the stupid ones? You’re doing a great job of holding up your end so far, I must say. Tremendous, even.
ReubenJCogburn on October 21, 2006 at 10:22 PM
I am juvenile. We liberals have nothing left but pre-teen insults. We tried making reasonable adult arguments concerning pre-war intelligence, N. Korea, social services, balancing the budget, diplomacy. None of it worked. We now have a middle class that makes considerably less than they did six years ago. We have a N. Korean nut job that has now trested a nuclear weapon. We can’t pressure China because we owe them trillions of dollars. We have a broken social security system that hasn’t been fixed (and this idea that by diverting funds from it for private accounts doesn’t exactly solve the fiscal shortfall). We’re trapped in the middle of a civil war that is breeding more terrorists by the day. We don’t have many friends left in the international community. We have very little to celebrate when it comes to the Bush administration. Whenever we liberals stand up and make our point we are accused of helping or supporting or encouraging terrorism. We are called tax and spenders (you know, as opposed to the GOP borrow and spend). We are told that we are meddling in Americans lives (the GOP Terri Schiavo incident ring a bell?) But we can take it. We are going to take over soon because the country is sick of you conservatives trying to do little boys. Until then we will stood to your level and try the whole pre-teen insult slinging.
shackler on October 22, 2006 at 3:19 PM
Well Reuben J …
Actually, give credit where credit is due. I much prefer words like ‘ding dong’ than the real profanities that comes from liberals keyboards most of the time.
Shackler… For your use of ding dong and other mild epithets rather than using the ‘f bomb’ or the ’s bomb’, I salute you.
LegendHasIt on October 22, 2006 at 4:05 PM
Much appreciated…
shackler on October 22, 2006 at 4:11 PM
The
YanksLibs are coming, theYanksLibs are coming, thoseYanksLibs are on the way!Entelechy on October 23, 2006 at 1:57 AM