Waxman catches WH in a lie, recommends subpoenas this week

June 26, 2007

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) has sunk his teeth into the latest Cheney scandal and he isn’t letting go. Today’s edition is particularly devastating.

In a letter to the White House counsel’s office, Waxman notes that White House spokesperson Dana Perino told reporters last week, “The president and the vice president are complying with all the rules and regulations regarding the handling of classified material and making sure that it is safeguarded and protected.” She added that Bush and Cheney exempted themselves from the provision that allows oversight.

Waxman argues that this is demonstrably false: the White House and the Office of the Vice President “have flaunted multiple requirements for protecting classified information, not just the section related to the responsibilities of the Information Security Oversight Office.”

* The White House regularly ignored security breaches. The security officers described repeated instances in which security breaches were reported to the White House Security Office by Secret Service or CIA agents, but were never investigated. In one case, the White House Security Office took no action after receiving a report that a White House official left classified materials unattended in a hotel room. In numerous instances, reports that White House officials left classified information on their desks went uninvestigated.

* The President’s top political advisor received a renewal of his security clearance despite presidential directives calling for the denial of security clearances for officials who misrepresent their involvement in security leaks. Under guidelines issued by President Bush, security clearances should not be renewed for individuals who deny their role in the release of classified information, regardless of whether the disclosure was intentional or negligent. Contrary to this guidance, the White House Security Office renewed the security clearance for Karl Rove in late 2006.

* The White House has condoned widespread mismanagement at the White House Security Office. According to the White House security officers, the White House allowed the White House Security Office to be run by managers who ignored basic security procedures and allowed other White House officials to do so also.

It’s probably worth taking an extra moment here to consider the big picture.

Obviously, given the existing political climate, the key news today is that Waxman has caught the White House ignoring its own executive order regarding handling of classified materials. But let’s not lose the forest for the trees: Waxman has assembled considerable evidence that the Bush gang, in a time of war, has been reckless when it comes to keeping secrets, and negligent when it comes to security precautions. The same people who claim credibility on national security are the same people who are careless when it comes to maintaining the integrity of a classified system. And then they lied about it.

Waxman went on to explain that he’s been trying to get answers from the White House for months, but to no avail.

I am therefore writing to advise you that unless we are able to schedule these interviews promptly, I will bring before the Committee on Thursday, June 28, a motion to subpoena the relevant officials for depositions.

He’s not going to back down. It’s bound to get interesting.

Again: How many times have subpeonas been threatened? And how many times has the WH complied?

How many subpeonas have been issued? None to my knowledge.

If Gonzalez is STILL the AG, after becoming the poster boy for all the scandals over the years by this gang, after making a mockery of our nation’s laws in front of a congressional panel, what on earth is going to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back?

  • Well done for Waxman (if he does anything) but the Dems need to pull out the megaphones and spread the following sound-bite: The White House is a threat to national security!

  • First, I don’t think the WH cares if subpoenas are issued – they will refuse to comply, and their response will be a version of, “Yeah, so what? What are you gonna do about it? Call me names? Stomp your feet? Just shut up and get out of our way.”

    Second, they will refuse to comply because rules are for other people, and they do not see themselves as being constrained in any way from doing whatever, in their sole judgment, is needed in order to “keep America safe,” or whatever bumper sticker policy they have.

    Finally, I think where we are headed with all of this is the building of a case of documented disregard for the rule of law and the constitutionally mandated oversight responsibilities of the Congress. At some point, if there is no meaningful cooperation, the Congress must decide whether it will simply give up, or will move to hold the WH accountable, if for no other reason than to make it clear that not only is there a line that the WH cannot cross without consequence, but that the line is there for all presidents and vice presidents that follow. If they are not willing to do that, to look to the future danger of an executive branch that considers itself beholden to no one, they all really ought to just pack up and go home as soon as the throne, crown and scepter arrive from Crate and Barrel.

  • Really tired of barking dogs that never bite.

    When Waxman threatens impeachment I’ll know he’s serious, til then it’s just SSDD, and it undermines the people who actually are serious about getting these criminals under control.

  • I get the frustration and impatience, but directing it at Henry Waxman is just irrational. This guy is pushing hard at every opportunity, waiting for something to break, leaning on every shaky apparatchik. It may or may not work, but it’s the right approach to try.

    Remember that he and the Dems are operating in a permanently hostile media environment. The corporate press, so eager to string up Bill Clinton ten years ago, won’t wait two seconds to really consider the case for impeachment; they’ll just go mass-Broder on the Dems. Waxman’s threatening the I-word might gratify a few people on the left, but it won’t happen, and it could do long-term damage.

    I felt last year that one of the best reasons to support the Dems was that Waxman would get the committee gavel. He hasn’t disappointed me, and I don’t expect he will.

  • I don’t see any reason to criticize Waxman here. He clearly isn’t falling for the “this will make Dems look weak” nonsense and he seems to be using his position appropriately. The revelation here is that he has security officials contacting him, so he has the opportunity to create the public record of what has been going on.

  • i’ve read other discussions here about why the democrats haven’t yet started impeachment proceedings. perhaps this is a part of it. if you are going into a situation that going to be difficult, isn’t it smarter if you take your time and make sure that the entire deck of cards is on your side? at the risk of sounding very naive, i think this is what waxman, leahy, et al are doing. impeachment will come. they’re just laying the groundwork in a responsible manner.

  • ***,…what on earth is going to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back?***
    —————–citizen_pain

    Well, we could start with journalists who, in remembering that they are members of “The Fourth Estate,” decide to boycott all ensuing episodes of the Tony SnowFlake Soap Opera Reality Miniseries Expose Documenary Infomercial Slopfest.

  • the Tony SnowFlake Soap Opera Reality Miniseries Expose Documenary Infomercial Slopfest

    With Special Guest Donna “I’m Not Commenting On That” Perrino!

    First, these messages …

    -GFO

  • I think just bill is right on the mark: *especially* in the wake of the US Attorney-politication-firing scandal, the Dems need to adhere to procedure, tradition, and the rule of law in the investigation/impeachment/prosecution of GOP immoralists, incompetents, and lawbreakers.

  • at the risk of sounding very naive, i think this is what waxman, leahy, et al are doing. impeachment will come. they’re just laying the groundwork in a responsible manner.

    That’s not naive at all. That’s how a good investigation is run. I would hate for Cheney to smirk off into the sunset on his trusty mule George, because of some technicality.

    Plus, the longer these dirt bags think they’re getting away with it the funnier their expressions will be when they’re well and truly busted.

  • Libby will still have his security clearance when he goes to jail. He’ll be trading state secrets for cigarettes.

  • I forsee an accident for Waxman or some defamation occurring…

    Conspiracy theory – yes. But what is Cheney-Rove to do otherwise.

  • I agree with dajafi, Lame Man, just bill, The Confidence Man and TAiO (5, 6, 7, 10 @11); Waxman is doing just what the doctor ordered. Reminds me of the mills of God, which may grind slowly, but do it exceedingly fine. If ruumours are to be believed, he’s been collecting his data on the SOBs for years. And now, finally, he has the chance to air it all. The man should be designated the National Treasure.

    sduffys, @13. I certainly hope you’re wrong. Doubt if anyone can drag out any dirt on him that would stick (hopefully, he’s teflonman, not waxman ). But yea, if I were him, I would stay away from hunting trips with Deadeye Dick.

  • I suspect that the Bush administration’s practice of classifying (or trying to anyway) pretty much everything in sight as top secret, from atom bomb secrets to visitor logs to lunch menus to the tags they tore off their mattresses, probably tends to encourage a certain sloppiness in the handling of classified documents pretty inevitably. You know the old saying: When everything is important then nothing is important. The same is almost certainly true if you substitute the word “sensitive” for “important.”

  • I’ll bet that’s “flouted”, as in “…have flouted multiple requirements for protecting classified information…” If it’s a direct quote, as is indicated, then the author misspoke.

    • Comments are closed.