President Obama’s spokesman said that White House would not permit an independent investigation into intelligence leaks, and would not say if the president would cooperate with a bipartisan congressional investigation.
“No,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said when asked if Obama would yield to congressional requests that an “independent counsel” investigate a recent series of intelligence leaks to the media. “I refer you to agencies that are tasked with investigating these kinds of matter. And, again, this is something that the President insists that his administration take all appropriate and necessary steps to prevent leaks of classified information or sensitive information that could risk our counterterrorism operations.”
Recommended Stories
Carney also couldn’t agree to a congressional investigation. “I know there was a press conference today and I just don’t have enough information about it,” he told reporters. “But this President is fully committed to preventing leaks of classified information, as well as sensitive information that could jeopardize our counterterrorism efforts.”
“It seems to be a pattern that is growing worse and more frequent,” said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., during a bipartisan and bicameral press conference on the intelligence leaks. “Their inability to keep a secret, this has been as serious a problem as I have seen.”
James Cole, a deputy attorney general in the Justice Department, said yesterday that he does not think an investigation into the leaks is necessary.
