Federal Probes Target Intelligence Lawmakers

April 24, 2007 9:18 AM

Justin Rood Reports:

Intel_committee_quad_nrWhen the FBI raided a business connected to Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., last week, the lawmaker joined a group that has sadly grown less exclusive in recent years: House intelligence committee members confirmed to be facing a federal criminal investigation.

Since 2005, four sitting members of the House panel entrusted with the nation's deepest secrets have come under FBI scrutiny. 

The committee, known formally as the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI, for short), reviews classified budgets and operational plans for the CIA, the NSA and other so-called three-letter agencies. 

Unlike nearly everyone else who works with the nation's deepest national security secrets, lawmakers on intelligence committees undergo no background checks, no polygraphs and no lifestyle audits. They are automatically waived in to review everything from secret satellite data to nuclear weapons intelligence. 

"That means the people who serve on that committee have to have the highest integrity possible," said Vince Cannistraro, a former senior CIA official and case officer.

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Following the FBI's raid last week on the offices of an insurance company owned by his wife, Renzi stepped down from the intelligence panel.

Whether or not the FBI finds any evidence of wrongdoing, experts say the recent probes are troubling.

"Name the one committee you don't want any corruption on," said Keith Ashdown of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a Washington, D.C.-based group which watchdogs congressional spending.

"There's a special obligation that comes with [serving on] that committee," Cannistraro concurred.

At least two investigations into HPSCI members have involved allegations of bribes-for-contracts schemes between lawmakers and intelligence contractors. Former California GOP Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham is in jail for taking millions in bribes in exchange for funneling government contracts.

Newly-elected Nevada governor and former Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., currently faces an investigation into whether he improperly helped a friend's contracting firm get business, payments and favored treatment from national security agencies and officials.

Through his lawyer, Gibbons has said he is confident "that all of this is going to be favorably resolved."

In Arizona, Renzi is suspected of taking a $200,000 payment from his business partner for using the power of his office to force the purchase of his business partner's land at an unreasonable price.  Renzi has denied the charges and said the FBI raid on his wife's insurance business as "the first step toward getting the truth out."

In 2005, the FBI reportedly opened an investigation into whether Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., then the senior Democrat on the committee, cut an improper deal with a powerful pro-Israel lobbying group in exchange for supporting her bid to head the committee.  Harman has denied wrongdoing, and the probe has reportedly stalled since failing to find evidence of wrongdoing.

Cannistraro, who once served as a clandestine CIA case officer in the Middle East and elsewhere, said it's painful for those who make careers out of learning and keeping the nation's secrets to hear stories of the corruption, both proven and alleged, that have recently dogged the very lawmakers to whom they entrust their secrets.

"They get disturbed by it," the 27-year CIA veteran told ABC News. "They're not in a position to tell the committee they can't have [certain] intelligence. It's theirs by statute."

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April 24, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (12)

User Comments

Wow, 3 out of 4 are Republicans. What does that tell you about the party and the entire Bush administration?

Posted by: Mike V | Apr 24, 2007 11:09:47 PM

well, at least they are consistent!

Posted by: Mike | Apr 25, 2007 12:12:33 AM

Hey John,

At least the Repubs aren't about to surrender to the Islamo fascists in Iraq. Dingy Harry is making B. Arnold look like a patriot.

Posted by: Ed Stanowicz | Apr 25, 2007 11:47:50 AM

If I were the decidererer, I would stage another fake 9/11 (though this time the attack would be on a deserted mountain in Nevada), declare martial law, remove all current house and senate members, set strict amounts for government financing of elections and allow the people, for once, to actually elect representatives (without the influences of PACs - such as AIPAC - or NRA or NEA or whatever), require the FCC to require equal air time for diverse views (at media conglomerate expense). Then with a new congress in place that is more likely truly representative of the people I would happily resign my dictatorship.

Posted by: Dr. Richard Welser | Apr 25, 2007 11:48:18 AM

Hey John,

At least the Repubs aren't about to surrender to the Islamo fascists in Iraq. Dingy Harry is making B. Arnold look like a patriot.

Posted by: Ed Stanowicz | Apr 25, 2007 11:48:20 AM

[Renzi has denied the charges and said the FBI raid on his wife's insurance business as "the first step toward getting the truth out."]

Someone should tell Mr. Renzi it is perfectly legal to GIVE files and such to the FBI. If he was so concerned with "getting the truth out," he needn't have waited for the raid.

Posted by: RandyBastard | Apr 25, 2007 11:50:39 AM

Dr wesler, what are you smoking? does that sound like the deciderer

Posted by: eugene | Apr 25, 2007 12:01:58 PM

hey stanowicz, wake up and smell the coffee buddy. Quit with the koolaid. Open your eyes. Face reality.

The not needed Iraq war has made the Islamic terrorists the world over much more dangerous. There are a lot more of them now, with more being created every day by Bush's incompetence.

Start caring for the safety of your country and her military, instead of caring more for your religious-right-controlled, corrupt and incompetent Republican party.

Posted by: savvy1 | Apr 25, 2007 7:16:24 PM

I’ve always wondered and been fascinated with the intelligence aspect of our entering into war with Afghanistan.

History now reveals that former President Roosevelt knew well in advance about the upcoming Pearl Harbor attack. This politically evasive truth later showed us that American intelligence professionals had successfully deciphered Japanese communication codes months prior to the actual invasion.

Remarkably American intelligence officials informed the president of precisely what the Japanese where up to well in advance of that memorable aggression. I should mention that over fifteen hundred innocent lives where lost in that one attack on America. 9/11 doubled those casualties

What people of that day were left unaware of was, the president had callously looked the other way when it was within his executive power and authority to act. This was a grossly manipulative strategy that Roosevelt employed intending to provoke the American people.

Roosevelt’s proven successful theory, noted that if he was to secretly allow the Japanese attacks to occur, that particularly blood curling act of foreign aggression would provide the much needed political mechanism of persuasion. There would be no public dissent.

American policy had up until that point, avoided external conflicts with any nation that had not purposely threatened or attack America, or our vital interests. President Roosevelt’s ingenious call to war effort eventually proved right on the mark. Soon after the fiery catastrophe in that forever altered Hawaiian bay, America for the very first time in the history of the most powerful nation in the world, America committed it self to it first war of choice.

True similarities, or mere coincidences, who really knows for sure, but the facts as they parallel have a lot of folks doing a real double take. I think sooner, or later we will probably have to confront the enormous, but universally avoided question. Did George W. Bush know, or should he have reasonable known, about the planned attacks on the WTC through the Pentagon’s Project Able Danger?

What we do know right now for sure is the sneaky way it has all come down surely warrants further investigation.

SacrAmerican

Posted by: SacrAmerican | Apr 28, 2007 1:19:45 AM

I love the way the republican neos whine and complain when they get gaught with their hand in the cookie jar1

Posted by: james Rowell | Apr 28, 2007 4:32:56 PM

I believe there are dirty Democrats and Republicans. Wm Jefferson, D-La, and Harry Reid, D-Nv have both had very shady situations that have never been investigated. Does that mean they didn't occur? No. It means, IMHO, that when this hits the MSM, it is swept under the rug, so as to be quickly forgotten. However, when a GOP Congressman has something hit the MSM, it is emblazened on the front page, makes the nightly news circuit and is kept alive for weeks, there by taking the view away from the Democrat wrong doer. Neither is correct. Wrong is wrong regardless of party affiliation and should be investigated. Period.

Rick in Germany

Posted by: Rick Krenz | Apr 30, 2007 5:14:21 AM

I agree, Rick in Germany, wrong is wrong. What is very interesting is that Sandy Berger, during the 9/11 commission hearings, was caught removing classified information from the National Archives and admitted that he had done that before and had either lost or destroyed other classified documents. Not much is spoken of regarding that situation. I completely agree that all persons guilty of crimes should be punished; moreover, imho, all persons, regardless of party affiliation, should get equal media coverage for their behavior, good or bad.

Posted by: nakashima76 | May 1, 2007 10:52:50 AM

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