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Top House Republican explains why he thinks the White House is responsible for national security exposure
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It is 1030 here in new York and -- developments this hour by the hour factor this leak investigation -- top national secret security.
Some Republicans accusing administration of making it public on purpose.
Including John McCain said this on fox a bit earlier today.
-- here we are.
With the two most importance.
Covert operations going on.
And they are should ongoing.
And clearly puts people's lives at risk -- I don't think there's any doubt that it came from the administration we need to find out.
What with The -- and what as best we can I would think that the person most eager to get this saying investigated would be the pricing and understated.
What -- bring in the Peter -- now in New York congressman chairman of the house homeland security committee and sir good morning she would welcome back to it.
Our programs will fight you called the president John Duaner George Patton or both.
What's behind that.
Yeah it was -- -- -- because was obvious from reading these stories that the administration is trying to.
Give the president glory as strong story when it outstanding what commander is -- -- -- I have said.
I think the president and a very good job as far as combating terrorism overseas.
A -- full credit for the bin Laden raid.
The operation to carry -- out I support them.
Portland my point is that none of this -- made public.
And it's obvious he was being contrived because it was portrayed in a way I think John Wayne and George -- yesterday but also in the -- stories themselves -- compare him to saint Thomas More straight because that these two White House aides -- top aides the president.
Describing him so it's sort of a a scholar and a warrior at the same time and -- that's great for campaign if you're talking about materials out in the open.
But to be using classified.
Sensitive top secret information.
And this isn't just me saying it as far as the type of information Democrats -- saying senator Feinstein.
Said it was unprecedented avalanche of a -- right information from out.
Think that I used to differences.
Whether or not you believe -- -- -- from the administration John McCain and I believe it.
As there are now there's a couple things I need to go through here okay so in the next couple minutes I want to get through this here is David that's arrive on CBS this morning -- The last thing that he would want the last thing anyone in the White House wants is to do anything that would jeopardize.
Those missions or jeopardize.
Those Americans so -- outraged about his age and and as you well know we've been attacked for being too hard on -- for going after leaguers.
Too hard this administration's been tougher on that.
Finish when so this is you know Lou bit of a -- there all of the election season is suggesting election season saying his outrage is anyone's.
Actually not that the president was our outrage.
He never said a word about the -- -- leaking of the Yemen.
A plot says several weeks ago which was the highest infiltrators we have had a more Qaeda and read your comments are.
Didn't say a word after the two stories appeared in the New York Times and -- And so John McCain started demanding a special counsel be appointed the president didn't say where there's no indication that he's sending direct about the administration.
He should've had in outrage should have been the day that first story appeared in the New York Times and certainly -- the second story of yeah it would instead people in the situation room.
People in the White House people in the Oval Office -- -- counting these personal conversations with the president and always.
He just showed how do you believe classified program we have do you believe the New York Times article makes it apparent where the -- came from but the sources could have been or war.
Optional absolutely did talk about the White House situation room that throughout the Oval Office.
They talk about aids advises the president they quote people say that there's a classified programs you can't use our name.
This that there's nobody else is -- come from this isn't my term.
Program with some small details are given out which could -- middle level person -- a relatively high level president.
We're talking about the president's actual words you said what we're not communities how decisions were made what they fact -- all of which dealt with classified information.
Ongoing investigation.
From the network from the Department of Justice once the investigation begins that does that freeze all the information.
Are you in the public locked out of this.
Now that necessarily fact intelligence committee about where Mike Rogers in the in the house to a terrific job as chairman of the intelligence committee know we can so go ahead -- don't -- -- -- a way that gets to public.
Because that it could compromise.
A yes subsequent -- what you were.
Command and then -- the attorney general like he can't he be objective on this do you believe.
-- or is this not a matter of outside counsel.
I am not certain yet there is initiatives we have not seen the letter that the attorney general is -- -- these two US attorney's.
Under the law.
The attorney general still in charge.
That he can give as much power as he wants to those two US attorneys we brought it I think it's essential that given full power.
Powerful right as far as -- As far as investigate is as far as grand jury witnesses.
As far as opinion is and ultimately deciding whether or not this re indictment attorney general three out of the process altogether he can only do that by giving a formal letter.
To those who knew -- attorneys and that's what he should do I give it edge yeah.
Give -- letter and showed.
-- I'm out of time but quickly you mentioned al-Qaeda in Yemen that's the hot spot.
And and now we've been exposed there how Long Will it take for US intelligence to get back inside that organization -- -- I've sort of -- people -- -- they have very disturbed -- and they can get the job done but it makes a much more difficult.
And it definitely puts American lives at risk to have these programs as -- -- right Peter King thank you for your time.
