November 29, 2010 10:41 AM

Congress Lashes Out at Wikileaks, Senators Say Leakers May Have "Blood on their Hands"

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
National Security

Updated at 5 p.m. ET

Congressmen on both sides of the aisle are condemning the massive leak of secret U.S. documents via the website Wikileaks as a reckless act that endangers American lives.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) called the release of more than 250,000 classified State Department documents a "reckless action which jeopardizes lives by exposing raw, contemporaneous intelligence."

While WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said he released the documents in the name of transparency, Kerry said that unlike the release of the Pentagon Papers, "this is not an academic exercise about freedom of information... Instead, these sensitive cables contain candid assessments and analysis of ongoing matters and they should remain confidential to protect the ability of the government to conduct lawful business with the private candor that's vital to effective diplomacy."

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, called the leak "nothing less than an attack on the national security of the United States."

"By disseminating these materials, Wikileaks is putting at risk the lives and the freedom of countless Americans and non-Americans around the world," he said in a statement. "It is an outrageous, reckless, and despicable action that will undermine the ability of our government and our partners to keep our people safe and to work together to defend our vital interests. Let there be no doubt: the individuals responsible are going to have blood on their hands."

Lieberman said American citizens guide the "balancing act" between transparency and national security through the election of their congressional representatives.

"What Wikileaks is doing is to short-circuit this entire democratic process -- claiming for itself the exclusive, unilateral, and unchecked power to decide what should and shouldn't be made public," he said. "This is therefore not only an attack on our national security, but an offense against our democracy and the principle of transparency."

On CBS' "The Early Show" this morning, Rep. Peter Hoesktra (R-Mich.), ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, called the leak a "massive" intelligence failure and said it could contain "a whole number of time bombs."

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), the incoming chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, went so far as to say WikiLeaks should be designated as a terrorist organization.

King also wrote a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, asking him to "criminally charge WikiLeaks activist Julian Assange under the Espionage Act" for conspiracy to disclose classified information.

Yesterday on Fox News Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said, "I agree with the Pentagon's assessment that the people at WikiLeaks could have blood on their hands."

Graham is a member of the Armed Services and Homeland Security committees. "Leaking the material is deplorable," he continued. "The world is getting dangerous by the day and the people who do this are really low on the food chain as far as I'm concerned. If you can prosecute them, let's try."

Also on the program, Sen. Clair McCaskill (D-Mo.), a member of the Armed Services Committe, said she agreed with Graham.

"The people who are leaking these documents need a gut check about their patriotism, and I think they're enjoying the attention they're getting but, frankly, it's coming at a very high price in terms of protecting our men and women in uniform," she said. "I hope that we can figure out where this is coming from and go after them with the force of law."

Update: Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a statement, "It is critical that the perpetrator who betrayed his country be brought to justice for this deliberate treason that jeopardizes our national security."

"These leaks of stolen secret documents endanger our troops, critical terror-fighting operations, our relationships with foreign allies, and sources around the globe who cooperate with America at great risk to their own lives," he added.

While most politicians aimed their fire at Wikileaks, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin criticized the Obama administration for its handling of Wikileaks.

More on the WikiLeaks Diplomatic Cables:

Hoekstra on WikiLeaks: "A Number of Time Bombs"
Outrage Over Wikileaks
The WikiLeaks Impact
WikiLeaks Releases State Dept. Documents
Key GOP Pol: WikiLeaks a Terrorist Group
Ahmadinejad Dismisses WikiLeaks Cable "Mischief"
U.S. Cables: Iran Armed Hezbollah Via Ambulances
Hoekstra: World's Trust in U.S. Now at Risk
U.S. Encouraged Diplomats to Spy, Leaks Show
Leaked Cables Shine Light on Iran Nuclear Threat
Worldwatch: Embarrassing Revelations Abound
Worldwatch: Diplomatic Shockers
White House Condemns WikiLeaks' Document Release
WikiLeaks Defies U.S., Releases Embassy Cables


Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of her posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

Add a Comment See all 30 Comments
by newsterI November 30, 2010 9:23 AM EST
Congressmen on both sides of the aisle are condemning the massive leak of secret U.S. documents via the website Wikileaks as a reckless act that endangers American lives. "

LOL maybe the govt shoulda thought of that BEFORE they did all these acts and wrote all these documents and SAVED them instead of shreading/destroying them immediately after use.
Thats right, blame the whistleblower!
Reply to this comment
by infantryman1968 November 30, 2010 8:15 AM EST
If this happened during Bush's watch Hillary, Obama and the rest of the National Socialist would be giving Julian Assange a Medal.

Now, they have to take him out.
Reply to this comment
by consciousnes November 30, 2010 7:31 AM EST
Well, with that many documents out there to be released, there are bound to be a few senators and congressmen who have there hands in the pot somewhere and they don't want to get caught.
So they think that if they squeal loud enough, they might come across as being patriotic.
But like I've said before, there are some things that could put people's lives in mortal danger, not just die from embarrassment.
Reply to this comment
by D_Morris_PE November 30, 2010 7:29 AM EST
Well, now, let's just declare WikiLeaks a terrorist organization, identify Assange and his staff as No. 1 priority, and send some of our drones to take him out. OK, OK, we'll give him 48 hours notice first, THEN we'll take him down. Then find the traitors who supplied the info, try them and have a public hanging in DC. Good clean fun and we send a message: Don't mess with Uncle Sam!

WikiLeaks' calculated efforts to sabotage the US are the electronic equivalent of Pearl Harbor. It's time to fight back and show our allies that we can grow a spine and take action rather than wringing our hands.
Reply to this comment
by TJphoto November 30, 2010 5:46 AM EST
We have a government that hides its lies and misdeeds by invoking "National Security". If this government lived up to the very ideals it says it was founded upon then none of this would be an issue.
Reply to this comment
by longtree-2009 November 30, 2010 5:31 AM EST
thinking it's the individuals that gave the data over to wikileaks that are the most to blame, them and the security protocol in handling, processing classified data. to blame too are those that award and superise individuals with the various security clearances. if individuals gave the data to wikileaks, they should be tried for treason during time of war and shot by firing squad. but that won't happen, there is no justice any longer. it's almost like borderline anarchy.
Reply to this comment
by wdh3007 November 30, 2010 3:10 AM EST
Thru wikkileaks the government and it's politics have been exposed for who they are I am no longer blaming Bush or Obama for anything it's now clear that it's all on the Unions, Corporations and George Soros..
Reply to this comment
by robe59 November 30, 2010 12:08 AM EST
I pledge allegiance to the corporations of the Corporate States of America, and to the corporations for which it stands, one nation, under corporations, indivisible, with liberty and justice for corporations.

This is the pledge of Congress, the Senate, the Supreme Court, Military industrial complex, THE PRESIDENT, etc....ad infinitum, ad nauseum........

God Bless Wikileaks
Reply to this comment
by KeithDrippingSprings November 29, 2010 7:51 PM EST
John Kerry shouldn't talk about war, I considered him a traitor when he testified before Congress 45 years ago. He may not have caused the death directly of any soldier but his testimony stole the honor of every soldier that returned after that.

The Congress has blood on its hands for sending our young men and women to Iraq and Afghanistan. Don't blame the president of either party. We wouldn't be at war if Congress didn't give them the money. You can't fight a war for free.

America has been at war or an occupying force continually since April 6th 1917. Don't you think 93 years would be long enough to be at war? Congress has supplied the money every step of the way. Congress is the only organization that can do as they please and it is always someone else at fault.
Reply to this comment
by noloyalisti November 29, 2010 6:45 PM EST
Why are we doing stuff that we are ashamed of? What is wrong with us? Maybe it is time to look at ourselves as a country and ask these questions.
Reply to this comment
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