King Urges FBI Director Mueller to Expand Investigations into National Security Leaks
August 2, 2012
These reported disclosures represent additional disturbing and irresponsible leaks of potentially classified information from this Administration
Washington, D.C. – Today, following yet two more flagrant leaks of sensitive national security information, Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, urged FBI Director Robert Mueller to expand his ongoing investigations into the continuing leaks from the Obama Administration. Yesterday, Reuters reported that “U.S. sources” have said that President Obama “has signed a secret order authorizing U.S. support for rebels seeking to depose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his government.” Additionally, Reuters reported that a U.S. supported “secret command center” against the Assad regime is located in Adana, Turkey.
In a letter to Mueller today, King wrote: “These reported disclosures represent additional disturbing and irresponsible leaks of potentially classified information from this Administration. Obviously, the ongoing investigations have failed to deter further leaks. The Administration's leaks must stop before they further endanger the lives of men and women sent into harm's way on our Nation's behalf.”
On May 21, Chairman King made his initial request for an FBI investigation into the leaks. The May 21 letter is available HERE.
The signed letter that Chairman King sent to Director Mueller today is available HERE.
The text of today’s letter follows:
Hon. Robert S. Mueller, III
Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Washington, D.C. 20535-0001
I write to follow up on a previous letter sent to you on May 21, 2012 requesting that the Federal Bureau of Investigation conduct a full inquiry of the widely reported leaks of highly classified information. Since my initial letter to you, recent press reporting has included additional flagrant leaks of sensitive national security information. Specifically, open source news reporting yesterday indicated that President Obama signed a secret order to authorize U.S. support for Syrian rebels fighting to overthrow the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Separately, news reporting also identified Adana, Turkey as the location for a U.S.-supported “secret command center” against the Assad regime.a
These reported disclosures represent additional disturbing and irresponsible leaks of potentially classified information from this Administration. Obviously, the ongoing investigations have failed to deter further leaks.
The Administration's leaks must stop before they further endanger the lives of men and women sent into harm's way on our Nation's behalf. I urge you to expand the ongoing FBI investigations to include these latest apparent leaks of classified information.
Sincerely,
PETER T. KING
Chairman