FR NETWORK FILES ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS OVER LEAKED MEMO

Free Republic Network and Intelmemo.com ^ | 12/15/03 | FRNetwork

[diotima]

 

NEWS RELEASE

===============================================================
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 15, 2003

CONTACT: Joe Giganti,Veritas Media 540-735-8050

FREE REPUBLIC NETWORK FILES SENATE ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST SENATOR JAY ROCKEFELLER AND INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS OVER LEAKED MEMO

(Washington, D.C.) The Free Republic Network announced today that it has filed a complaint with the Senate Select Committee on Ethics alleging improper and unethical conduct by Senator Jay Rockefeller and Democrat members of the staff of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

The complaint alleges that a memo drafted by committee staff and provided to Democrat members of the Committee, and subsequently leaked to Fox News, documents efforts by Democrat committee members to abuse their positions on the historically non-partisan Intelligence Committee to obtain privileged intelligence information and misuse it to help elect the 2004 Democrat Presidential nominee.

The Senate Ethics complaint states:

The contents of this memo are frightening and disturbing. The actions contemplated by it, besides the obvious legal and ethical considerations, have created mistrust among SSCI members, within the Intelligence agencies responsible for our nation's security, and among the American people to whom they are responsible.

The Chairman of the SSCI has threatened to shut the committee down or to significantly limit its activities. As the ability of Executive branch intelligence agencies to confidently share information and adequately advise the SSCI on matters of critical national importance has been compromised, our country has been put in a clear and present danger of grievous harm. Ultimately, the war on terror is at risk.

The complaint specifically requests the Ethics Committee to address three specific questions:

• Whether Senator Rockefeller, Democrat staffers, or Democrat Senate members of the SSCI used, or conspired to use, the resources of the SSCI to engage in political activities in violation of the Senate Rules of Ethics;
• Whether Senator Rockefeller, Democrat staffers, or Democrat Senate members of the SSCI impermissibly used official resources to engage in what is effectively campaign work;
• Whether Senator Rockefeller, Democrat staffers, or Democrat Senate members of the SSCI violated Rule 9.6 of the SSCI by impermissibly disclosing, or conspiring to disclose, the contents of any papers or materials or other information received by the Committee, mandating referral to the Select Committee on Ethics pursuant to Section 8 of S. Res. 400.
  

The Free Republic Network (www.freerepublic.net) has created a website at www.intelmemo.com to document the progress of the scandal referred to as "Memogate". --30--

[TheOtherOne]

What do you mean it doesn't accomplish anything?

I didn't say that. I said, I think it will result in something different that what you seek. I think the result will be the person who took the memo from secure computers will pay, that is all. Unfortunately, I think that person is a Repub staffer, so this will not end well. Why do you think it has been dropped in the Senate?

[countrydummy]

You guys and gals rock!!!!!!!!!! Way to go! You know how I feel about Rockedummy!!!! LOL

[Judith Anne]

I don't think the leaker is a Republican staffer. I think it's a Miller democrat, who gave the memo to Sean Hannity, who broke the story. Remember, Hannity said "You would not believe who gave me this memo."

Are you getting the two different memos mixed up?

As far as the other memo goes, if the computers weren't secure, then tough luck to the Dems. Nobody stole anything, it was available for everyone to read.

[hoosiermama]

Thanks DIO for doing something! To sit back and complan and not act NEVER get results. Hopefully something will come of this!

[expatpat]

Way to go!

[an amused spectator]

Why do you think it has been dropped in the Senate?

Because a number of "Republican" senators regularly lose cojone-comparing contests with hamsters.

The Senate won't call the Democrats on the judges issue [24/7/365 filibuster], and also dropped the impeachment of Clinton, if you recall.

After watching Kute Katie Kommie pee all over the capture of Saddam this morning, I know exactly why this is going nowhere - for the same reason that back in 1997, the leaked contents of the Newt cell-phone call got more press than McDermott's involvement in the wire-tap. The Democrats own the press.

[NittanyLion]

I have no problem with these actions, but I must admit I thought the same thing. This is certainly reminiscent of a Klayman press release.

[MinuteGal]

This is an official complaint filed to the ethics committee, not a Klayman-type lawsuit.

Leni

[diotima]

We put this press release out in order to keep this issue in the public eye. This is getting dropped from the media, if it really ever was picked up to begin with. This issue is important.

As for Klayman-esque: We ask for no money, where is the plea for money? You won't find a direct mail appeal in your mailbox from us when you go to check your mail today or tomorrow or this month. Rather, doing something like this costs US money. Not a big deal, most of it will come from my pocket and others, just to let you know.

Filing this ethics complaint, and putting out a press release provides another opportunity for this to get media exposure. And this issue NEEDS media exposure.

Do we think the Democrats covering up this issue will summarily removed for this behavior? No. Very doubtful. But if we can try and get this in front of the public so people are aware of what shenanigans are going on in the government on their dime, hopefully there might be a small effect at re-election time.

[Smile-n-Win]

Good hunting, Freepers!

BTTT

[jmstein7]

Hear hear

[b4its2late]

Great job dio. It's obvious that if no one keeps the issue alive, it'll fade away.

Keep the heat on by keeping it on the burner!

[MissAmericanPie]

They may own the press, the government, and have the market on propaganda cornered, it makes no difference in the long run, and that's what we are in it for, the long run.

Like termites we will bring them down, even if we have to do it one bite at a time until the whole structure crumbles. There is no excuse to remain silent, to give in, to say nothing can be done, or that we will produce an unwanted outcome. They cannot operate with impunity or without challenge any longer. Republican politicians need to know there is a growing noisy resistance to demonrat sop.

[an amused spectator]

Like termites we will bring them down

I've been happily chewing since early 1997. ;-)

[MissAmericanPie]

LOL, we will not tire, we will not falter, we will not fail....chomp

[elephant]

I guess one never knows the result until you try!

[Rabid Dog]

Yeah Free Republic Network!!

[DoctorMichael]

Hey, somebody's got to. The Republiweenies don't have a 'pair'.

[DoughtyOne]

Thank you for your efforts on this Diotima. I know you and the other board members have felt this was a very important issue that we did not want to see left unaddressed. I hope the message is sent loud and clear, national security secrets must remain secret. Anyone, Senator or Congressman, who doesn't understand that is in for a bit of a rough ride in the future. Some citizens are damned sick and tired of public officials who don't seem to give a darn about this nation's national security and should know better than to do something like this.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Thanks for the ping!!!!! This is great!