Ex-FBI Chief Puts Clinton Critique in Print

Washington Post ^ | 10/07/05 | Howard Kurtz

[Pikamax]

Ex-FBI Chief Puts Clinton Critique in Print Freeh's Book and Interview Air Harsh Statements; Some Call It Fiction

By Howard Kurtz Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, October 7, 2005; A02

Former FBI director Louis J. Freeh has denounced Bill Clinton over the scandals that marred his presidency and for his record on terrorism, saying the level of distrust was so great that he stayed in his post so Clinton could not appoint his successor.

In a forthcoming book and "60 Minutes" interview, Freeh, whose strained relations with Clinton were no secret, says he was so determined to distance himself from Clinton that he sent back a White House pass so that all his visits would be deemed official. This, he said, antagonized Clinton.

In an interview with CBS's Mike Wallace to be broadcast Sunday, Freeh says: "The problem was with Bill Clinton -- the scandals and the rumored scandals, the incubating ones and the dying ones never ended. Whatever moral compass the president was consulting was leading him in the wrong direction. His closets were full of skeletons just waiting to burst out." Freeh cited investigations involving Whitewater, Monica Lewinsky, Paula Jones and Gennifer Flowers.

Clinton spokesman Jay Carson said last night: "This is clearly a total work of fiction by a man who's desperate to clear his name and sell books, and it's unfortunate he'd stoop to this level in his attempt to rewrite history." He noted Freeh contributed nearly $20,000 to Republicans, including President Bush, in the last campaign.

[singfreedom]

Are you surprised? (I know you're not or you wouldn't be a FReeper!) Slime, willing to send one of their "minions" into the National Archives to steal and destroy OUR documents, are OBVIOUSLY trying to rewrite history.

BTW, Sandy "Burglar" was arrested the other day for doing 88MPH in a 55MPH speed zone. He may be facing jail time now for the suspended sentence he got for his thievery! Couldn't happen to a more deserving individual.

[taxesareforever]

He noted Freeh contributed nearly $20,000 to Republicans, including President Bush, in the last campaign.

What a shocker. You would have thought that he would have donated to those who dumped on him for years.

[shooter223]

maybe you are correct.....didn't seem that way at the time ....to me

[Moonmad27]

The crocodile tears video is shocking. Before I saw it, I'd always thought it probably was a view from afar that could be misunderstood - but it's an amazing closeup view!

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Recently when Clinton was looking so bad that people remarked about it and conjectured about health problems, to me he looked worried rather than sick. I suspicious then that he knew someone had the goods on him and was about to blow him out of the water.

Just as the Clintons have no loyalty to others neither do others have loyalty to them. Those who stand by them and defend them are defending the party, the Communist Party, rather than the individuals. They defend Sheets Byrd, too. It is the Party that is important, not the individual.

[SirJohnBarleycorn]

maybe you are correct.....didn't seem that way at the time ....to me

Actually I think he DID seem like a clintonista after some of the apparent politicization that went on at FBI during the Clinton administration, but when he was first appointed, his reputation was the exact opposite of a political hack.

It sounds like his defense to this is that he had to accede to the politicization or be fired, in which case Clinton would put someone worse in there. Will be interested to see the details of this line of defense in the book.

[ZOTnot]

This isn't the first time this has happened, but....

When I looked at the thread, and then the replies, it read # 16 of 15. How is it, that on numerous occasions, the numbers are reversed? Shouldn't it read, '# 15 of 16?'

However, other threads nearby are in the correct numerical sequence.

Is it my computer which does this? Or is it a matter of people posting so quickly that the numbering cannot keep pace?

[okie01]

and I thought Freeh was a Clintonista......guess I was wrong

Recall that Freeh, testifying before a Senate committee, reported that he withheld certain information from the White House due to "security risks".

When pressed on precisely who or what was the "security risk" to which he referred, Freeh responded, "The President".

This episode went essentially unreported.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

In the past I have had a couple weird things like that occur, so you are not alone. I blamed it on my puter.

[jpl]

"This is clearly a total work of fiction by a man who's desperate to clear his name and sell books."

Hmm, where I have I heard something like that before? Oh yeah, it's almost identical to what they said about Gary Aldrich and his book, before he was totally vindicated later on!

[Asfarastheeastisfromthewest...]

When pressed on precisely who or what was the "security risk" to which he referred, Freeh responded, "The President".

Do you remember the details of this?

[Roberts]

Mega bump

[SirJohnBarleycorn]

I distinctly remember this too, although to my memory he didn't say "the president" but something like "at the very highest level."

[kcvl]

Jay Carson was also a former press secretary for Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and has worked for the Democratic National Committee.


Jay Carson, spokesman for the Clinton Global Initiative.


Jay Carson, a spokesman for Howard Dean


Jay Carson will serve as New York Communications Director for the America Can Do Better Campaign. Carson served as Press Secretary for Governor Howard Dean’s presidential campaign, Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Charles Schumer’s campaign, and as a spokesman for Democratic Senate leaders.


Jay Carson will be Communications Director for Former President William J. Clinton and the William J. Clinton Foundation


Jay Carson, who is a former Clinton advance man, former presidential candidate Howard Dean's spokesman, and most recently the communications guy with the New York City 2012 Olympics bid committee.

"He's in the family, so to speak," said a Democratic strategist. Carson has good contacts in the media, is well liked by reporters and is a high-energy operator, which has led observers to suggest that his hiring means that Clinton plans to lead an active public life.

[MHGinTN]

Allow me to add a 'constrained' ditto ... Freeh ain't my idea of a solid leader.

[kcvl]

Jay Carson speaking for the Kucinich campaign

[okie01]

Do you remember the details of this?

I'm looking for a source article now. This one comes close, but isn't quite the event I recall...

Investigation Into Campaign Fund Raising, from Insight.

For example, it includes the following...

Freeh refused to furnish anything more detailed than briefing papers similar to those his staff had provided the National Security Council last summer. The FBI director let it be known around Washington that he had to protect the integrity of the Justice Department probe and couldn't rely on White House officials to keep the information under wraps -- a startling revelation of distrust of his political superiors.

My recollection is that Freeh actually said as much in a Senate hearing, most likely related to illegal ChiComm campaign contributions.

I'll keep looking...

[okie01]

Freeh told the committee that he feels the law requires an independent counsel because the investigations of 1996 presidential campaign financing abuses "involves a core group of individuals" at the White House and elsewhere, some explicitly covered by the law and some whose continued investigation by the Justice Department would pose "a personal, financial or political conflict of interest."

Burton asked, "Does that [group] include the president and the vice president?"

"Yes, sir," Freeh replied.

This is probably the exchange I remembered. It actually took place before the House Government Reform & Oversight Committee, chaired by Burton. The committee was studying campaign finance reform and the specific point at issue was the ongoing battle in the Justice Dept over appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the ChiComm contributions.

Which Freeh had been requesting for several months. And which, of course, never happened.

[dsmatuska]

Found this on Drudge. It looks like Mr. Freeh is saying in his mind "Stay away from that man son."

[Asfarastheeastisfromthewest...]

Thanks for digging that out. I'll have a further look at it when I get a chance. By the way, I may have to watch SeeBS 60 Minutes this weekend for the first time in years.