"Word out of the Defense Intelligence Agency and law enforcement sources has the FBI and the Department of Justice comparing notes and dates on who in the U.S. Senate received national security briefings on both the overseas terrorist prisons and the NSA overseas terrorist monitoring programs, and when those briefings took place.
"The number of Senators who received briefings is not as large as people think," says one law enforcement source. "These were programs with a limited 'Need to Know" list on Capitol Hill."
Federal investigators looking into the leaks of both those programs to the press are zeroing in on the Senate, and are expected to continue to hold interviews of both Senators and their senior staff in the coming days. "This investigation is moving forward at a pretty fast clip," says the law enforcement source. "We're not looking at a two-year probe. We're talking about moving fast."
As yet, cooperation from the media outlets -- the Washington Post and the New York Times has been minimal, but investigators aren't sure they will need full cooperation to make the case. "The Hill may be all we need," says the source.
Focus of the investigation remains on the staffs of two Senators, Sen. Jay Rockefeller and Sen. Dick Durbin, as well as committee staff for the Senate Intelligence Committee and career intelligence staff detailed to U.S. Senate offices and committees. Last week, it was revealed that on February 17 Senator Rockefeller had sent a letter to the White House claiming that the Bush Administration had illegally leaked classified materials to Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward for a book project he was working on with cooperation from the Bush White House.
A number of people of Capitol Hill and in the intelligence community interpreted the letter as an attempt by Rockefeller to play defense should it be revealed that his office or staff tied to him on the Intelligence Committee are somehow involved in the serious leak cases."
Remember, you heard it here first. Senator Rockefeller - you are in trouble. The NSA leak will only be the tip of the iceberg for Rocky, word is that other probes will be launched into his statement that he visited Syria in 2002 - what did he tell? Who did he tell? More important, who else knew and WHO they are?
UPDATE: Take that!
"WASHINGTON — The White House on Monday rejected the call by several House Democrats for a special counsel to investigate the Bush administration's eavesdropping program.
"I think that where these Democrats who are calling for this ought to spend their time is on what was the source of the unauthorized disclosure of this vital, incredible program in the war on terrorism," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "I really don't think there is any basis for a special counsel. ... But the fact that this information was disclosed about the existence of this program has given the enemy some of our playbook."
Nice try Rocky......
This is typical for the Democrats. The Plame Game wasn't about Plame's NON status, yet the Bush administration back in 2003 went ahead and gave Wilson and his butt boy Schumer what they wanted. Not this time. The Gloves are off and from what I know they have solid "confidence" in what has been uncovered so far to give them impetus to tell the Dems this time to "Stuff it". It's about time. Mark this - it's only the beginning.
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