| ILLEGAL LEAKING
OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
Bush illegally leaked 'cherry picked' information from a classified
National Intelligence Estimate. Bush subsequently feigned ignorance
of his involvement, keeping the public and the investigators from
being able to seek accountability.
- March 25, 2003
President Bush signs an executive order defining (among other things) the legal method for declassifing classified information.The following quote from the executive order eliminates any excuse that the disclosure of classified information was not illegal due to its prior release in the media:
"Classified information shall not be declassified automatically as a result of any unauthorized disclosure of identical or similar information."
The following quotes from the executive order reveal that the process for declassifying information require a procedure, contrary to some people's speculation. The President can not simply declassify information via announcement to the media:
"[T]he following [declassification instructions] shall appear on the face of each classified document ... the date or event for declassification, ... the date that is 10 years from the date of original classification, ... [or] the date that is up to 25 years from the date of original classification ..."
"Prior to public release, all declassified records shall be appropriately marked to reflect their declassification"
"In some exceptional cases, however, the need to protect such information may be outweighed by the public interest in disclosure of the information ... When such questions arise, they shall be referred to the agency head or the senior agency official. That official will determine, as an exercise of discretion, whether the public interest in disclosure outweighs the damage to the national security that might reasonably be expected from disclosure." (F.A.S.)
- Sometime prior to July 6, 2003
President George W. Bush authorizes Lewis
Libby (a former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney) to leak
information from a classified intelligence report to a New York
Times reporter as revealed in Libby's sworn testimony to a federal
grand jury in a 39-page Fitzgerald filing on April 5, 2006.
"Vice President advised defendant that the President specifically had authorized defendant to disclose certain information in the NIE."
(Fitzgerald filing)
- July 8, 2003
Lewis Libby leaks classified intelligence
to the press. Also shown in the 39-page Fitzgerald filing.
"Defendant was instructed to provide what was for him an extremely rare 'on the record' statement, and to provide 'background' and 'deep background' statements, and to provide information contained in a document defendant understood to be the cable authored by Mr. [Joseph] Wilson. During the conversations that followed on July 12, defendant discussed Ms.[Valerie Plame] Wilson’s employment with both Matthew Cooper (for the first time) and Judith Miller (for the third time)."
(Fitzgerald filing)
- July 18, 2003
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan
admits to leak publically in Press Gaggle, the administration had also released some other previously classified information on this day. McClellan's comments make it appear as if this new release is to counter some supposedly biased information contained in the previous leak. Making it appear as if the previous leak was not orchestrated by the administration. He also indicates that the information was not declassified until that day - July 18th.
Question by reporter: "Why, Scott, was the cable that was -- that derived from the debriefing of Joe Wilson not included among the declassified documents?"
MR. McCLELLAN: "Well, we always want to share as much information as we can. There is some classified information that -- well, there's some information that remains classified for national security reasons. But we felt that this information -- which is what the State of the Union statement was originally based on -- was important to share with the American people, because it could be declassified."
Question by reporter: "When was it actually declassified?"
MR. McCLELLAN: "It was officially declassified today."(White House Transcript)
- September 29, 2003
White House Press Secretary:
"The President has set high standards, the highest of standards
for people in his administration. He's made it very clear to people
in his administration that he expects them to adhere to the highest
standards of conduct. If anyone in this administration was involved
in it [the leak], they would no longer be in this administration."
(White
House Transcript & Video)
- September 30, 2003
President Bush:
"I don't know of anybody in my administration who leaked classified
information. If somebody did leak classified information, I'd
like to know it, and we'll take the appropriate action." (White
House Transcript & Video)
- September 30, 2003
President Bush:
"If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know
who it is. And if the person has violated law, the person will
be taken care of. . . . I have told our administration, people
in my administration to be fully cooperative. I want to know the
truth. If anybody has got any information inside our administration
or outside our administration, it would be helpful if they came
forward with the information so we can find out whether or not
these allegations are true and get on about the business." (White
House Transcript & Video)
- October 6, 2003
President Bush:
"We will cooperate fully with the Justice Department. ...
I'd like to know who leaked, and if anybody has got any information
inside our government or outside our government who leaked, you
ought to take it to the Justice Department so we can find out
the leaker. I have told my staff, I want full cooperation with
the Justice Department. And when they ask for information, we
expect the information to be delivered on a timely basis. I expect
it to be delivered on a timely basis. I want there to be full
participation, ... And if this helps stop leaks of -- this investigation
in finding the truth, it will not only hold someone to account
who should not have leaked -- and this is a serious charge,
by the way. We're talking about a criminal action, ...
but also hopefully will help set a clear signal we expect other
leaks to stop, as well. And so I look forward to finding the truth."
Question by reporter: "What about retaliation? People are
saying that it's retaliation"
PRESIDENT BUSH: "I don't know who leaked the information,
for starters. So it's hard for me to answer that question until
I find out the truth. You hear all kinds of rumors. And the best
way to clarify the issue is for full participation with the Justice
Department. ... look, I want to know. I want to know." [Audio
Clip]
(White House Transcript & Video)
- October 7, 2003
President Bush:
"This is a town of -- where a lot of people leak. And I've
constantly expressed my displeasure with leaks, particularly leaks
of classified information. And I want to know, I want to know
the truth. I want to see to it that the truth prevail. And I hope
we can get this investigation done in a thorough way, as quickly
as possible." [Audio Clip]
(White
House Transcript & Video)
- October 7, 2003
White House Press Secretary:
"Let me answer what the President has said. I speak for the President
and I'll talk to you about what he wants . . .If someone leaked
classified information, the President wants to know. If someone
in this administration leaked classified information, they will
no longer be a part of this administration, because that's not
the way this White House operates, that's not the way this President
expects people in his administration to conduct their business."
(White
House Transcript & Video)
- October 17, 2003
President Bush: In Cabinet Meeting responding
to a question about his confidence that the leaking senior administration
official will be discovered.
"... How many sources have you had that's leaked information
that you've exposed or have been exposed? Probably none. I mean
this town is a -- is a town full of people who like to leak information.
And I don't know if we're going to find out the senior administration
official. Now, this is a large administration, and there's a lot
of senior officials. I don't have any idea. I'd like to. I want
to know the truth. That's why I've instructed this staff of mine
to cooperate fully with the investigators -- full disclosure,
everything we know the investigators will find out. I have no
idea whether we'll find out who the leaker is -- partially because,
in all due respect to your profession, you do a very good job
of protecting the leakers. But we'll find out." [Audio
clip](White
House Transcript & Video)
- October 28, 2003
President Bush:
"I'd like to know if somebody in my White House did leak sensitive
information." (White
House Transcript & Video)
- June 10, 2004
President Bush:
Reporter: "Do you stand by your pledge to fire anyone found to
have done so?"
President Bush: "Yes. And that's up to the U.S. Attorney to find
the facts." (State
Department's Website)
- July 19, 2005
President Bush:
"If someone committed crime, they will no longer work in my administration."
(July 19, Associated Press )
- April 5, 2006
Lewis Libby testifies to a federal grand jury about President Bush
authorizing the leaking of classified information. (Fitzgerald
filing)
-
January 31, 2007
 Later during the Lewis Libby trial, it is revealed that Cheney had written about President Bush's involvement in asking Libby to leak the NIE information.
"Thus, Cheney's notes would have read 'not going to protect one staffer and sacrifice the guy this Pres. asked to stick his head in the meat grinder because of the incompetence of others.' The words 'this Pres.' were crossed out and replaced with 'that was,' but are still clearly legible in the document."
(January 31, 2007, Truthout)
|
