[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 5741]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     LEAK OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, yesterday the American people received the 
shocking news that the Vice President's former chief of staff, Scooter 
Libby, may have acted on direct orders from President Bush when he 
leaked classified intelligence information to reporters. It is an 
understatement to say that this is a serious allegation with national 
security consequences. It directly contradicts previous statements made 
by the President. It continues a pattern of misleading America by this 
Bush White House. It raises somber and troubling questions about the 
Bush administration's candor with Congress and the American people.
  Today, I come to the floor to request answers on behalf of our 
troops, their families, and the American people. For years President 
Bush has denied knowing about conversations between his top aides and 
Washington reporters, conversations where his aides, like Scooter 
Libby, sought to justify the war in Iraq and discredit the White 
House's critics by leaking national security secrets. In fact, 
President Bush is on record clearly, in September of 2003, as saying:

       I don't know of anybody in my administration who leaked 
     classified information. If somebody did leak classified 
     information, I'd like to know it, and we'll take appropriate 
     action.

  Yesterday, we found there is much more to the story. According to 
court records, President Bush may have personally authorized the very 
leaks he denied knowing anything about. In light of this disturbing 
news, we need to hear from President Bush which of these is true: His 
comments in 2003 or the statements made by the Vice President's chief 
of staff. Only the President can put this matter to rest.
  Harry Truman had on his desk in the Oval Office a plaque. It said: 
``The buck stops here.'' In George Bush's White House, perhaps he 
should put one that says: The leaks start here.
  He, the President of the United States, must tell the American people 
whether President Bush's Oval Office is a place where the buck stops or 
the leaks start. This is a question he alone must answer, not a 
spokesman, not a statement, only the President of the United States.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I, too, thank the Senator from West 
Virginia for his courtesy. I ask unanimous consent to speak this 
afternoon for up to 15 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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