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WASHINGTON D.C. -- Congresswoman
Jane Harman (D-Venice), Ranking Member on the House Intelligence
Committee, today released the following statement in response to
Chairman Pete Hoekstra's unprecedented suspension of a Committee
staffer’s access to classified information. Attached is a letter Harman
sent to Hoekstra on October 18th, responding to his action:
“The Chairman’s unilateral action is without basis and an abuse of
his power to provide security accesses. There is no evidence to
suggest that the professional staff member in question did anything
wrong.
“In May, the NIE was provided to multiple congressional committees
and made available to thousands of individuals throughout the
intelligence and policymaking community. The document was posted
on the internal Committee website and available to every Committee
staff member days before the story was published. In securing the
document and providing it to a Member of the Committee in the secure
Committee offices, this staffer acted appropriately.
“The Chairman has acknowledged in a letter to me that his action was
a direct response to my decision to release the 5-page unclassified
Summary of the Cunningham Report by the Special Counsel.
“The Majority staff has also informed Minority staff that they do
not believe the staffer in question actually leaked any classified
information, but they felt “compelled” to take this action because a
Majority member of the Committee requested an investigation.
“That Member has been quoted in the press, saying, “There are no
coincidences in this town.” I do not believe this unwarranted
action is any coincidence either. It is an effort to silence
those of us who want to speak truth to power about the Cunningham
matter.
“Attached is a letter I sent to Hoekstra on October 18th, responding
to his action. This letter reflects the views of all nine
Democratic Members of the Committee.”
LINK TO LETTER
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