There is a relevant case law, and, Mr. Herring, I would say that there is constitutional language that would prohibit what's going on here today.

I need to apologize for the way that you're being treated here today.

I have enormous respect and admiration for Secretary Powell, and we remain as a country thankful for his courageous service.

On the other hand, whistleblowers, some people call them our first line of defense.

It surely appears that we have done a number of iterations to try to revamp and reform the Office of the Inspector General at DOD.

We have a very basic duty in this country to protect the people, to protect the American people.

Basically, what that is is an opt-out provision for a constitutional right.

So Secretary Powell is testifying before the United Nations Security Council, telling them they got--that there are weapons of mass destruction and we need to go into Iraq.

It makes it very difficult for a government to function and it has an implication for the public too.

I think we're at a point where it has a chilling effect, where you can't even have normal discourse anymore.

these issues are not just critical to financial regulation, but they are central to our national security.