-Caveat Lector-
Begin forwarded message:
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: July 28, 2007 7:59:48 PM PDT
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: THREE Democrats in Congress Told Secret C.O.G. Plan "None
of Your Business"
Democratic members of the Homeland Security Committee were told
the document is "close hold." "Frankly, we're not willing to share it"
DeFazio chases secret terror-crisis plan
After the White House denies access, the Web buzzes with conspiracy
chatter
The Oregonian, July 28, 2007
JEFF KOSSEFF
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/
118559492719310.xml&coll=7
WASHINGTON -- Peter DeFazio won't take no for an answer.
After conspiracy theorists fanned the Internet with their outrage,
the Oregon congressman renewed his push Friday to gain access to
the classified portion of a White House plan to operate the
government after a terrorist attack.
This time, DeFazio is joined by two other Democrats on the House
Homeland Security Committee who wrote to a top Bush administration
Homeland Security official requesting access to the information.
The White House refused to provide it to DeFazio earlier this
month, offering no explanation beyond national security concerns.
After The Oregonian reported the situation a week ago, the story
spread rapidly across the Internet, linked from more than 250 blog
postings and political Web sites.
"We can think of no basis for you to deny members of the Committee
on Homeland Security the opportunity to review this document in a
secure setting," states the letter signed by DeFazio; Rep. Bennie
Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the committee; and Rep. Chris
Carney, D-Pa., chairman of the Homeland Security oversight
subcommittee.
The letter was addressed to Frances Townsend, assistant to the
president for homeland security and counterterrorism.
DeFazio wants to read the secret file after hearing from
constituents concerned about a conspiracy. The public portion of
the presidential directive lays out general policies for operating
the government during a major catastrophe, but it referred to
classified portions.
According to the letter, White House staff had initially said it
would provide the document to Homeland Security Committee staff so
DeFazio could review it. But on July 18, White House staff, the
congressmen wrote, "informed the Committee that the request had
been reconsidered and rejected. In fact, the Committee staff was
told the document is 'close hold,' and 'frankly we are not willing
to share it.' "
"This response is as troubling as it is shocking," wrote DeFazio
and the other Democrats.
Members of Congress are allowed to view classified material in a
secured room in the Capitol, provided they do not disclose the
contents.
"In addition to the standard oath of secrecy taken by all members
of Congress, members of the Committee on Homeland Security are
required to sign an oath agreeing not to disclose any classified
information received during the course of their service on the
Committee," the congressmen wrote.
In a written statement, White House spokesman Trey Bohn would not
say why DeFazio was denied access: "We do not comment through the
press on the process that this access entails. It is important to
keep in mind that much of the information related to the continuity
of government is highly sensitive."
DeFazio's dispute points to a broader tension between the White
House and members of Congress, who say they are not provided with
information they request from the executive branch.
"I'm trying to think of one piece of information this
administration has actually supplied to me that it hasn't first put
out on CNN," Rep. David Wu, D-Ore., said in a recent interview,
citing requests for information about whether helmet liners were
being provided to the National Guard to requests for evidence of
weapons of mass destruction.
Jeff Kosseff: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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