Waxman Reveals Numerous New Security Violations, Threatens Subpoenas

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/26/waxman-security-officers/

Waxman Reveals Numerous New Security Violations, Threatens Subpoenas

House oversight chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) has revealed new evidence “that both the White House and the Office of the Vice President have flaunted multiple requirements for protecting classified information,” beyond the violation of the executive order reported earlier this week.

Last Friday, White House spokesperson Dana Perino stated that the “president and the vice president are complying with all the rules and regulations regarding the handling of classified material.” This is false. As Waxman makes clear in today’s letter to White House Counsel Fred Fielding, the Bush administration has repeatedly broken its own guidelines for securing classified information:

White House security officers blocked from inspecting the West Wing. The National Archives is not the only agency ensuring that White House officials comply with the requirements for protecting classified information. The White House Security Office (WHSO) also shares this responsibility. Waxman reports today that WHSO employees “have been blocked from conducting inspections in the West Wing of the White House, where most of the President’s most senior advisors work.”

Karl Rove has had his security clearance renewed. Karl Rove has admitted that he publicly disclosed Valerie Plame’s status as a CIA officer. Under guidelines issued by President Bush in 2005, the “deliberate or negligent disclosure” of classified information can be a “disqualifying” condition to receive security clearance. Yet Waxman reports that Rove has had his security clearance renewed “and not altered in any respect.”

White House ignored security breaches, condoned mismanagement. Management at White House Security Office has been unwilling to “take actions that could embarrass White House officials,” a practice “condoned” by the White House, Waxman writes. For example, the office repeatedly ignored security breaches that were reported by the Secret Service or CIA agents, such as when a “White House official left classified materials unattended in a hotel room.” As a result, there was “plummeting morale among White House security officers,” half of whom quit last year.

Since April, Waxman has tried unsuccessfully to arrange interviews with White House officials overseeing security matters. Unless those interviews are granted, Waxman says, he will bring a motion to subpoena the officials on June 28.

[MADem]

1. Henry is like a dog with a bone. They aren't gonna make him go away by ignoring or stonewalling him

[EST]

18. And a small dog, at that.

Robert Heinlein once opined the principle behind how a fifty pound dog can take down a two hundred pound attacker - answer - an all out attack, giving no quarter and totally without concern for his own safety or well being. And then never giving up or letting go, unless it's to take a bigger bite.

I have never met Waxman in person, and anytime I've seen him on TV, he's been sitting in the power chair on a committee or by himself at a podium. I figured him at about six feet tall plus another five or six inches of apparent height because of his indignant moral stance and insistence on ethical treatment for the parties in question.

I only learned fairly recently that he was only five-foot-four. The analogy immediately struck me with by own choice of small dogs as guard dogs.
If they get upset and suspicious, they will yap and yap and yap and will NOT shut up until they are damned good and ready. Waxman is a damned good watch dog. Goodonim.

[Beetwasher]

2. The Only Time There Was Ever ESPIONAGE IN THE WH Was Under Cheney

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/014831.php

[bigtree]

3. K&R

:kick:

[DeSwiss]

4. K&R!!!

Henry, stop threatening to issue subpoenas and just start issuing them.

Okay?

[bigtree]

5. he has issued subpoenas

and he's actively investigating, taking testimony, gathering evidence . . .

[DeSwiss]

12. Not knocking Henry....

...he's just moving a little too slow for me. And he's being way too damned nice to these pricks!!!

:mad:

[Phredicles]

22. Let's see the April 25 subpoena he issued for Rice enforced.

I'll hold my applause until then.

[nashville_brook]

6. they might as well come out and say "look here for evidence of high crimes!"

it's where we don't want you to look, which is to say, everywhere.

[mopinko]

7. let me know when you sign onto impeachment, henry

what's it gonna take?

[DavidDvorkin]

8. Flouted, not flaunted.

What they have flaunted is their contempt for Congress and the rest of the country.

And why not? There are no consequences.

[bigtree]

11. There certainly are consequences

Former Bush Official Faces Sentencing in Abramoff Case

WASHINGTON (AP) --

Former Deputy Interior Secretary J. Steven Griles faces sentencing Tuesday for obstruction of justice. He has admitted lying to a Senate committee investigating his relationship with the disgraced lobbyist.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GRILES_ABRAMOFF?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-06-26-03-28-05

[DavidDvorkin]

14. Subordinates

The important villains remain untouched and will continue to do so.

[bigtree]

16. Halderman, Erlichman, and Dean were "just subordinites' as well

who were squeezed in the investigation, trial, and conviction of the Watergate burglars to Dean's implication of Nixon, well before the Watergate Committee was even formed.

[DavidDvorkin]

21. I hope that's what's happening now

But I can't let myself hope too much.

I haven't seen any sign that people at the Haldemann-Ehrlichman-Dean level are under serious pressure. Rove would fit that, but he seems to be free and clear.

[Major Hogwash]

9. Issue the damn subpoenas already!! Drag their asses in kicking and screaming!!

Damn, how long is Waxman going to be patient and wait for them to come address Congress willingly?

[BattyDem]

10. Exactly! Stop threatening them and just do it!

:grr:

[driver8]

13. The longer he waits, the more evidence they can destroy.

I know, I know...the rethuglicans would never, ever destroy evidence.

[BlueStater]

15. Stop threatening and actually do it!

Jesus Christ.

[Beelzebud]

17. Oh great, another threat. DO SOMETHING

[Kurovski]

19. K&R. (nt)

[Disturbed]

20. Get on with it Waxman!

Back up the talk with action!