Porter Goss: “no one, not the President and not members of his family or staff, should be above the law. After the distressing Ames…”

“no one, not the President and not members of his family or staff, should be above the law. After the distressing Ames revelations and reports of mishandled documents in executive offices, Americans now learn that White House staff--some high-ranking--have neglected to obtain security clearances. Since this fact became public, we have been unable to get straightforward answers about the damage that may have been done, about the numbers of staff involved, about the risks that were taken with sensitive information. Questions are understandably being raised about why this routine, but vital clearance procedure is being circumvented at the White House. So far, we are told that staff just has not made the time to submit to the rules. This excuse begs two serious questions: First, are the rules no longer important in this administration? Or, second, what do these people have to hide? Americans deserve to know.”