Dems Force Closed Senate Session
Senators Force Unusual Closed Session To Spotlight Iraq Intel
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Play CBS Video Video Fireworks In The Senate In a bold move that infuriated Republicans, Democratic Leader Harry Reid moved the Senate into closed session to discuss the investigations into pre-war assessments on Iraq. Wyatt Andrews reports.
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Video Dems Shutdown The Senate Democrats say the there should have been an investigation into whether intelligence that led to the war in Iraq was manipulated by the administration and have closed the Senate. Aleen Sirgany reports.
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A Capitol police officer stands guard outside the locked doors leading to the Senate gallery Nov. 1, 2005. (GETTY)
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Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., center, flanked by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., left, and Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2005 after a closed-door Senate session. (AP)
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Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., appears for an interview with George Stephanopolous on ABC's "This Week," in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2005. (AP Photo/ABC News)
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Interactive The Leak People and events surrounding the leak of a CIA officer's name.
Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, was indicted last Friday in an investigation that touched on the war — the leak of the identity of a CIA official married to a critic of the administration's Iraq policy.
"The Libby indictment provides a window into what this is really all about, how this administration manufactured and manipulated intelligence in order to sell the war in Iraq and attempted to destroy those who dared to challenge its actions," Reid said before invoking Senate rules that led to the closed session.
Libby resigned from his White House post after being indicted on charges of obstruction of justice, making false statements and perjury.
Democrats contend that the unmasking of CIA officer Valerie Plame was retribution for her husband, Joseph Wilson's publicly challenging the Bush administration's contention that Iraq was seeking to purchase uranium from Africa. That claim was part of the White House's justification for going to war.
As Reid spoke, Frist met in the back of the chamber with a half-dozen senior GOP senators, including Roberts, who bore the brunt of Reid's criticism. Reid claimed that Republicans have repeatedly rebuffed Democratic pleas for a thorough investigation.
Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., a former majority leader, said a closed session was appropriate for such overarching matters as impeachment and chemical weapons — the two topics that last sent the senators into such sessions.
In addition, Lott said, Reid's move violated the Senate's tradition of courtesy and consent. But there was nothing in Senate rules enabling Republicans to thwart Reid's effort.
The Senate had been considering a budget bill when it went into closed session.
©MMV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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