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Resolution calls for attorneys not accountable to Eric Holder to handle the investigation
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Big story right now in Washington two Republican senators top senators are now calling on attorney general Eric Holder.
To ensure a proper investigation of the recent intelligence leaks by appointing an outside.
Independent special prosecutor to this case they claim that the Justice Department simply cannot be impartial.
By a signing two of its -- US attorneys to investigate the Obama administration in all of this.
Eric Holder says he does not believe that special counsel's work.
We have moved away from independent counsel model which proved to be not particularly successful -- what we have seen since that time.
Is the use of US attorneys to try to home run these matters US attorneys who themselves were not involved in the underlying matters.
South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham is one of those senators who is behind that resolution he was very outspoken about this.
In that hearing yesterday with Eric Holder he of course is also on the senate armed services.
And the Senate Judiciary Committee which was the business that was at hand there yesterday senator Graham good morning good to have you here today.
Good morning so first I have it if you could respond to what Eric Holder said he said that that the model for independent counsel.
Has proven that it does not work.
Ridiculous.
Peter FitzGerald was then -- US attorney in Chicago.
Outside of wives and who investigated the Valerie Plame CIA.
Out in case.
And given the authority of a special counsel which.
Creates legal structure infrastructure around the attorney that would prevent him from having political influence living.
The chief of staff that they vice president the United States in the Bush Administration wound up being.
Fashion council.
That Abramoff case they had a special counsel appointed because Abramoff was accused of influencing.
The most prominent people in Washington president Senator Obama and Senator Biden wrote letters to the Bush Administration.
Urging a special counsel and those two cases now and this case we're talking about five differently -- the most classified programs.
In the nation's history.
Putting people at risk.
Straining ties with -- allies and some of the culprits -- the suspects.
Include the national security advisor.
And his team if there was every situation for special counsel it is now.
And this is a bad precedent this -- -- urging.
This attorney general.
To do what Senator Obama and Senator Biden asked that the Bush Administration.
Picked somebody outside the system that we all could buying into the.
I mean it as you well know in these stories in New York Times and others the sources that were mentioned were administration officials.
And top national security officials.
At the time at the times says that the administration never voiced.
Any concerns about that they never you know called them ostensibly and said you know who we're sources -- -- How did you get this information.
And all of those accounts really were very favorable.
To the president and the administration so it it do you believe based on all of that.
That that these leaks did come from the upper echelons of the administration.
Absolutely the sources include senior White House officials.
Quoting the president.
I review of this -- books that that Tom -- won the national security advisor was the hero of the book.
And gave -- global -- blow by blow description.
All the programs in question that mr.
singer had unprecedented access some of the stories quote Department of Justice officials.
So yes this involves people -- the highest level government.
And the pattern is clear these stories were leaked.
For a political purpose in my view to create an impression that the Obama administration the president was a decisive.
National security leader the reason there was no major push back by the White House when these.
Operations were being the most is that they like what they were hearing.
And they named.
People.
They indicated.
That the doctor in Pakistan who helped.
Let's find bin Laden they they they disclose that information he serving 33 years in jail this is just a terrible situation that needs a special counts.
And -- has been pointed out Robert Gates seems to be one of the people who was in inner circle above that -- -- it wants to make it very clear that he was very much against it.
And in fact heat you know perhaps it is only recently to let everybody know that he told Tom Donnelly and to shut the blank up about all of this was very upset he of course but you know crosses both administrations.
Into the Bush Administration is well but I -- -- I want to get to you know Eric holder's response because he says the Obama administration has has prosecuted more -- Then any prior administration he feels at their record is very strong on this he also feels that these two US attorney -- One who is -- has been a democratic supporter in the past the other -- Was a Republican appointee he believes that because of that diversity.
They will be very fair and that they've already.
Jumped on its investigation of already interviewed holder and Muller at the FBI quite extensive.
Won't want I don't care what he believes is what I believe in the public believes.
He could that he could pick somebody that I would say yes that's a good person.
Who's a special counsel outside.
The political influences that the Department of Justice let me tell you this whole episode.
Reeks of leaks motivated by -- politics.
Coming from the highest level of government.
And he said when asked him do you think it was good to have a special counsel in the Valerie Plame case he said yes.
Do you agree it was good to have a special counsel and Abramoff case he said yes now how in the world can all of my democratic colleagues.
Including Senator Obama and Biden at the time.
Every Democrat told the Bush Administration we don't trust you.
When it comes to investigating what happened -- Valerie -- we don't trust your administration to go after Abramoff.
Because too many Republicans are potentially involved to expect me in my Republican colleagues to trust this crowd forget.
What last.
Question -- you brought up Valerie Plame there have been some comparisons made.
Is this situation do you see this situation -- more egregious than a hundred times -- What we've done here well what we talked about a cyber attack coordinated with the State of Israel.
And in the book the reason the Obama administration wanted to use cyber attack against the -- -- the program.
Is to prevent Israel from issuing.
Going on a military strike.
We're talking about -- the underwear bomber case -- -- disclose a double agent.
Supposedly.
-- hard by the saudis were talking about putting people's lives at risk like the Pakistan -- Doctor we're talking about the double agents families being involved.
We're talking about compromising programs -- allies like Israel we're talking about every detail of the bin Laden -- seal team six and their families.
Yes this is exponentially worse there is no way in -- God's green earth you got to convince me.
That this scenario doesn't justify special counsel when everybody on the democratic side so 1981 for Valerie Plame -- Jack Abramoff.
We're not gonna let this go.
Now I don't know where the evidence is gonna go but our process I -- trust I don't trust this process as bad precedent thank you.
For being here we hope you'll come back again keep us posted on developments here -- S senator Lindsey.
