Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, went public and stated that someone at the White House was responsible for the recent leaks of classified information that were apparently released for partisan political purposes to bolster President Obama's national security image.
“I think the White House has to understand that some of this is coming from their ranks,” Feinstein said in an address at the World Affairs Council, The Associated Press first reported.
Feinstein said she was certain that President Obama had not disclosed any of the classified intelligence, but believed others in the administration were responsible.
“I don’t believe for a moment that he goes out and talks about it,” she said of the president.
Last month, reports in the press detailing a U.S. cyberattack against Iran and an administration terrorist “kill list” provoked outrage on Capitol Hill and led to bipartisan calls for an investigation into the disclosures.
After bi-partisan outrage, Attorney General Eric Holder claimed he was investigating the leaks, but the White House refused to name a special independent counsel. Feinstein and many of her fellow Democrats went along with this, saying they were sure Holder's investigation would be 'fair and impartial.'
That would certainly be a first for him.
President Obama has yet to respond to Senator Feinstein's statement.
My personal bets for who was directly involved? Either Leon Panetta or Tom Donilon, President Obama's National Security Advisor...whose background, as they say, is interesting.
Unlike many NSA's his history is political rather than military or security oriented. Donilon, a lawyer, migrated to his career in 'national security' after a stint as a lobbyist for Fannie Mae. He's also the brother of Vice President Biden's legal counselor and married to Jill Biden's chief of staff.
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