***Update 10-21-06*** Jane Harman is being investigated by the Justice Department in connection with pro-Israel lobby American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Time exclusive:
Did a Democratic member of Congress improperly enlist the support of a major pro-Israel lobbying group to try to win a top committee assignment? That's the question at the heart of an ongoing investigation by the FBI and Justice Department prosecutors, who are examining whether Rep. Jane Harman of California and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) may have violated the law in a scheme to get Harman reappointed as the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, according to knowledgeable sources in and out of the U.S. government.
The sources tell TIME that the investigation by Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has simmered out of sight since about the middle of last year, is examining whether Harman and AIPAC arranged for wealthy supporters to lobby House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi on Harman's behalf. Harman said Thursday in a voicemail message that any investigation of — or allegation of improper conduct by — her would be "irresponsible, laughable and scurrilous." On Friday, Washington GOP super lawyer Ted Olson left voicemail messages underscoring that Harman has no knowledge of any investigation. "Congresswoman Harman has asked me to follow up on calls you've had," Olson said. "She is not aware of any such investigation, does not believe that it is occurring, and wanted to make sure that you and your editors knew that as far as she knows, that's not true... . No one from the Justice Department has contacted her." It is not, however, a given that Harman would know that she is under investigation. In a follow-up phone call from California, Olson said Harman hired him this morning because she takes seriously the possibility of a media report about an investigation of her, even though she does not believe it herself. (emphasis mine)
Interesting choice of lawyers. Ted Olson was Solicitor General in the Bush administration from 2001 to 2004. I assume it's the same Ted Olson.
Michelle has previously posted on possible illegal activity involving AIPAC:
As longtime readers of this blog now, I have wondered repeatedly why so many in Washington on both sides of the aisle kept quiet about the AIPAC illegal leak case. (See The National Security Scandal No One's Talking About, for example. More background below.)
Time's report helps shed some light on Democrat reticence.
Stay tuned.
***End Update***
When portions of the National Intelligence Estimate were leaked last month, the Democrats pounced on it as proof the Bush administration was mishandling the war in Iraq. One of the loudest voices belonged to Representative Jane Harman, California Democrat. She was everywhere denouncing the Bush administration. She appeared on all the talking head shows and was quoted in numerous newspaper articles, demanding and accusing:
"It's high time for this administration to ... acknowledge that Iraq is undermining the security" of Americans, said Rep. Jane Harman, California Democrat.
Mrs. Harman, the ranking member of the House intelligence committee, also said she hears there is a second, more recent NIE report and that "its contents are grim."
She claimed President Bush was playing politics with the report (Jane, that's funny coming from a Democrat).
The White House denied a charge by Rep. Jane Harman, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, that another intelligence report is being kept in draft form so that its contents won't be public until the midterm elections in November are over.
"I hear it paints a grim picture. And because it does, I am told it is being held until after the November elections. If this estimate is finished, it should not be stamped 'draft' and hidden from the American people until after the elections," Harman said in a statement.
White House spokesman Tony Snow said Wednesday that Harman's claims about the new report are "flat wrong."
Now comes the news that a Democrat staff member, Larry Hanauer, has been suspended by Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Michigan Republican Peter Hoekstra. And here's Ms. Jane again making demands:
The Intelligence Committee's top Democrat, Jane Harman of California, wrote to Hoekstra that she was "appalled" by his action, which was "without basis."
[...]
In her letter, Harman demanded that Hoekstra "immediately reinstate the staffer's access to classified information."
Macranger wonders if there is a reason for Jane to be appalled:
Has Rep. Jane Harmen, a member of the House Intelligence Committee been divulging information to the MSM?
Yesterday we learned that an unnamed democratic staffer had been suspended by House Intel Committee Chairman, Rep. Pete Hoekstra for possibly leaking a National Intelligence Estimate to the Ny Times.
Of course the first to complain was in fact Jane Harman, who just happens to have been the one who pushed for it’s release from John Negreponte, and is even now pushing for a second NIE.
The fact is that the staffer had been asked by someone, most likely Harmen to request the report. However, it’s highly unlikely that the staffer would just call up the Ny Times and give them the info.
Harmen has a long historywith the Times. In fact when you read most of the leaked stories over the last couple of years you don’t have to read too far without hearing a quote from her somewhere in the story.
Although she has tried to deflect on occasion, but we know that she has no problem giving up information to the MSM when a political partisan end is in sight.
I think that this may well turn into a major scandal, especially if this staffer was her mule and he decides to talk.
That would be appalling indeed for Ms. Harman.
Also from the Breitbart article linked above, this little tidbit:
On Tuesday, Harman unilaterally released the executive summary of an independent investigator's review into the actions of a jailed former congressman, Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif. The report found that he abused his position on the committee to help ensure lucrative contracts went to associates, in exchange for bribes.
Hoekstra called Harman's decision to release the document "disturbing and beyond the pale."
But surely she isn't playing politics. This information was so vital to the American people it had to be released RIGHT NOW. It's just a coincidence it came during the same week a Democrat staffer was suspended for leaking classified information to the press. "Disturbing and beyond the pale." Yes it she is.
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