Liberal Repercussion

From C-SPAN

Congressional News Conference
Leaked Staff Memos
U.S. Capitol, Senate Radio TV Gallery
Washington, District of Columbia (United States)
ID: 180840 - 03/04/2004 - 0:36 - $29.95

Leahy, Patrick J., U.S. Senator, D-VT
Hatch, Orrin, U.S. Senator, R-UT


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/05/politics/05LEAK.html

The 65-page report concluded that the two Republican staff aides, both of whom have since departed, improperly read, downloaded and printed as many as 4,670 files concerning the Democrats' tactics in opposing many of President Bush's judicial nominees. The report, the result of an investigation undertaken at the request of the Senate Judiciary Committee, suggested that many other Republican staff aides may have been involved in trafficking in the stolen documents.

"I am mortified that this improper, unethical and simply unacceptable breach of confidential files occurred," Senator Orrin G. Hatch, the Utah Republican who is the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, told reporters. "There is no excuse that can justify these improper actions."

Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the committee's ranking Democrat, said, "This report indisputably shows that this secret surveillance was calculated, systematic and sweeping in its scope. It is not difficult to conclude that this was criminal behavior."

The report was supposed to be released with the names of the individuals involved redacted. But a copy was mistakenly released with the names included. The report identified the two former Republican staff aides as Manuel C. Miranda, who had already been named as a central figure in the investigation, and Jason Lundell, whose name had not previously been known.

...

The report named four other Republican staff aides who might have read the documents but did not fully cooperate with investigators.

Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said he believed that an independent counsel with subpoena power should be named by the Justice Department to investigate whether any crimes were committed.

posted by Rei Toei @ 8:13 p.m.