The Senate quietly adopted an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill last week that would strip the security clearance of anyone who knowingly reveals classified information, including the identity of a covert intelligence agent.<\/p>\n
By way of follow-up, Sens. Mark Dayton (D-Minn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) contacted Mark Frownfelter, the official in charge of security clearances for White House officials, yesterday, asking when Karl Rove’s security clearance will be “reevaluated.”<\/p>\n
According to the above-referenced indictment, a White House official identified as “Official A” disclosed the identity of an undercover CIA agent to columnist Robert Novak, who published the information. White House officials have confirmed that “Official A” is Mr. Rove.<\/p>\n
As you know, such activity is prohibited under Federal regulations governing access to classified information:<\/p>\n
Classified information may be made available to a person only when the possessor of the information establishes that the person has a valid “need to know” and the access is essential to the accomplishment of official government duties. The proposed recipient is eligible to receive classified information only after he\/she has been granted a security clearance by the EOP Security Officer.<\/p>\n
As EOP Security Officer, when the possibility of a violation of these standards becomes evident, you are required to take “prompt action to investigate alleged violations of security, and recommen[d] appropriate administrative action with respect to violators.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n