FORMER DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
JOHN M. DEUTCH
TESTIFIES BEFORE THE SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – John M.. Deutch appeared before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence today to answer questions regarding his mishandling of classified information while he was the Director of Central Intelligence and Deputy Secretary of Defense. Prior to Deutch's testimony, the Committee voted unanimously to release the CIA Inspector General's report of investigation on "Improper Handling of Classified Information by John M. Deutch." Copies are available in the Committees' office, and the report also will be posted on the Committee's website at http://intelligence.senate.gov.
Commenting on Deutch's testimony Senator Shelby said, "Dr. Deutch, I believe, was not successful in assuaging the concerns of the Committee. His conduct continues to baffle Members of the Committee, and his explanations were not wholly satisfactory. The Committee continues to be troubled by what it has learned to date and therefore will continue to examine all aspects of this disturbing story. We have invited Mr. O'Neil and Mrs. Slatkin to appear before the Committee on March 1, 2000 and I expect to call George Tenet before the Committee at the appropriate time."
Regarding the release of the CIA IG's report Senator Shelby said, "I believed very strongly that a great deal of the information in the report could have and should have been declassified from the outset. For that very reason, the Vice Chairman and I asked the Inspector General to prepare the unclassified version that the Committee has decided unanimously to release to the public today. This disturbing series of events and the actions of those involved should be exposed to the light of day. Further secrecy and obfuscation will only generate more distrust by the American people. One of the reasons that this committee exists is to ensure that the public is not excluded unjustifiably from the activities of our intelligence agencies and those that enjoy the privilege of leading them."
Senator Bryan said, "The Committee appreciates Dr. Deutch's years of public service in many capacities, but in this case the security breaches were reckless and beyond explanation. This case also raises broader systemic issues, such as why it took the CIA 18 months to notify this Committee of its investigation into Dr. Deutch's mishandling of classified material, and why the CIA failed to conduct a damage assessment until the Chairman and I requested that one be initiated. We will examine these and other issues in future hearings. In the meantime, I believe strongly that the CIA Inspector General's report on this matter be made public and note that my colleagues on the Committee unanimously shared that view."
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