Tom Harkin: “I also wanted to again comment on the stories appearing in the media about the leaked information regarding an…”

“I also wanted to again comment on the stories appearing in the media about the leaked information regarding an undercover CIA agent. As we all know by now, a law was broken. It is a Federal crime under the Intelligence Identity Protection Act of 1982 to intentionally disclose information identifying a covert agent by anyone not authorized to receive classified information. Conviction under this crime is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $50,000. What do we know so far? We know a columnist, Mr. Robert Novak, received this information. He printed it in his column in the newspaper. It is interesting that we now find there were other journalists given that information, but they did not write this. They did not print it. That raises questions in itself as to why Mr. Novak went ahead and wrote this. We know this was put out into the public. We know--at least it has been alleged--that Mr. Novak said he got the information from a ``high administration official.'' The other journalists, I guess, who got this information said the same thing. We don't know whether it is in the White House or where it is. But there are all kinds of rumors and allegations floating around. Now I see the Justice Department is starting to investigate. Isn't that a sweetheart deal? Attorney General John Ashcroft, appointed by this President, investigating the President. If a situation ever cried out for a special counsel, this is it.”