July 25, 2005

Democrats Unveil "Accountability Clock"

Senators Hold Republicans Accountable for Lack of Oversight

Washington, DC – Senate Democrats today unveiled their “Accountability Clock” to highlight the failure by Senate Republicans to fulfill their Constitutional oversight responsibilities. On the 742nd day since the name of a covert CIA officer was leaked by the Bush White House, Democrats marked the continued complacence by Republicans in Congress to investigate a serious breach of national security during a time of war. Today marks 742 days without an investigation into the security breach by the White House and 742 days without a hearing in Congress. 742 days with no accountability is 742 days too long.

The unveiling of this web clock came as 26 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and House Speaker Dennis Hastert calling on them to fulfill their oversight responsibilities. The letter noted that despite an independent investigation into the leak, the Congress must not relinquish its own duty to provide oversight of the Executive Branch.

The web “Clock O’Inaction” is available at:http://democrats.senate.gov/leak.html

CIA LEAK CASE BY THE NUMBERS

Number of days after the article outing Ambassador Wilson’s wife appeared that the White House required its staff to turn over evidence relating to the leak: 85

Approximate hours between then-White House counsel Alberto Gonzalez’s advance notification to White House Chief of Staff Andy Card that he would require staff to turn over evidence relating to the case and formal notification to staff of that requirement: 12

Minimum number of times an Administration official leaked classified information about the identity of Ambassador Wilson’s wife: 11

Minimum number of times after the beginning of the Justice Department’s investigation that White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan claimed Karl Rove was not involved: 5

Minimum number of times since evidence linking Karl Rove to the leak was made public that Press Secretary McClellan has refused to comment on the case, citing an ongoing investigation: 7

Minimum number of hearings held by Senate Republicans to investigate accusations against President Clinton involving the “Whitewater” case: 20

Total hearings held by Senate Republicans to investigate the leak of the covert identity of Ambassador Joseph Wilson’s wife: 0

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