REP. ANDREWS CALLS ON PRESIDENT TO EXPLAIN HIS ROLE IN INTELLIGENCE LEAK

Our nation’s leaders are entrusted to maintain the secrecy of information that is critical for protecting U.S. security.  Recent allegations made by the Vice President’s former Chief of Staff that the President of the United States authorized the leaking of classified information, are extremely serious.  President Bush must go before the American public and offer a full explanation of his actions and the actions of senior officials involved in this matter.

As a result of the leak, the lives of an American intelligence agent and people she worked with were jeopardized.  National security was compromised.  The Constitution charges Congress with oversight of the executive branch; I therefore strongly urge Judiciary Committee Chairman Sensenbrenner to hold hearings into whether the President did, indeed, compromise  national security. The President also has an obligation to speak directly to the American public about his actions and their impact on our country.

The American public expects that we will put the nation’s best interest first and fulfill our duties.  In this instance, that requires a thorough investigation into whether the President approved the decision to leak classified information to the press.  This must be done to protect our national security and the sanctity of our intelligence agencies.  
 

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