Conyers to Rumsfeld: Did Judy Miller have security clearance?

[BurtWorm]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-conyers/does-judy-have-a-security_b_9054.html


October 17, 2005

The Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld
Secretary
Department of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000

Dear Mr. Secretary:

We write about reports that journalists who were embedded with U.S. forces in Iraq were given security clearances. In her recounting of discussions with Scooter Libby, the Vice President’s Chief of Staff, New York Times reporter Judith Miller, disclosed her belief that she had a security clearance. She specifically wrote, “uring the Iraq war, the Pentagon had given me clearance to see secret information as part of my assignment ‘embedded’ with a special military unit hunting for unconventional weapons.” She also noted she was not certain whether her clearance was in existence at the time she met with Mr. Libby.

In order to better understand the scope of the program under which journalists received security clearances, we would appreciate your prompt response to the following questions:

1. Since March 20, 2003, the date of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, have any journalists been provided with a security clearance or with access to classified information? If so, please explain. At what level were these clearances granted? Were background investigations conducted on these journalists and, if so, in what manner? Of journalists receiving security clearances or access to classified information, how many were embedded with U.S. forces in Iraq?


2. Who approved the policy of providing journalists with security clearances or with access to classified information? What was the operational reason for granting security clearances to journalists? How does this policy comport with the requirement that classified information be disseminated on a “need to know” basis?

3. Did each journalist sign documentation delineating their obligation to protect classified information as is required by employees of the federal government? Were journalists required to sign any additional non-disclosure agreements by the Department of the Defense or the military department to which they were assigned? If so, please provide a copy of such an agreement.

4. Did journalists maintain their clearances after completing participation in the embed program? Are journalists with a security clearance or other access notified upon the revocation or termination of such clearance or access? When does such revocation or termination occur? Have any journalists who are or have been embedded with forces in Iraq had their security clearances revoked or otherwise terminated?

5. Since March 20, 2003, what journalists were provided with security clearances or other access to classified information? How long did each clearance or access period last?

Please reply through the Judiciary Committee Minority Office, 2142 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 (tel: [phone]) and the Armed Services Committee Minority Office, 2340 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 (tel: [phone]).

Sincerely,

______________________________ ______________________________
John Conyers, Jr. Ike Skelton
Ranking Member Ranking Member
Committee on the Judiciary Committee on Armed Services

[Halliburton]

1. does anyone know if we can get a perjury charge for Miller

for claiming she had security clearance?

[caledesi]

4. If she lied under oath..Yes. Security clearances are serious stuff. nt

[Halliburton]

10. good

Fitzgerald reads a lot of news reports as outlined in his letters to Libby's lawyer. Just hope he reads this one so we can get Miller for perjury.

[louis-t]

11. Their answer will be: "she THOUGHT she had clearance."

These pukes rarely respond when Conyers corners them. He never quits, though.

[mod mom]

2. Conyers, is he incredible or what? He is constantly fighting the good

fight!

[Beaverhausen]

3. I agree. He got right on this issue!

[noamnety]

8. He needs to ask about the contract

There should be a mention of what contract she was working under, and congress needs to have access to that contract.

[MellowOne]

5. We needs more people like Conyers

He's my hero!

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Rummy went to China today. Hopefully they'll grant him asylum there.

[dbeach]

9. to sell more nukes??

or just gas and the leftover arms from his ole sells to hussein?

If hussein could talk...

[caledesi]

7. I don't how Conyers can keep sending letters to these arrogant

thugs knowing there won't be an answer.

I guess he is just letting them know that he is "on" to them.

Just wish for once, these cowards would answer.

[mod mom]

12. Could this be a way of DISCREDITING her testimony? Maybe she was told

she had clearance, trusted their word but now that the sh#* is hitting the proverbial fan thty are denying it as a way to discredit her testimony. Just a thought.

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. Ladies and gentlemen - the Smoking Gun

Journalists are not supposed to have security clearance. Either Judy lied or someone like Rummie, gave her clearance that she should have never had. Either way, she just added at least a couple of charges to the indictment list.

[Spinzonner]

14. This still wouldn't be enough to give her a right to any and all info

A security clearance is not a blank check.

Each piece of information is still subject to a 'need to know' criteria.