DOJ: Gonzales Mishandled Top-Secret Docs

Former Attorney General Will Not Be Prosecuted For Potential Security Breach

(AP)  While serving as attorney general, Alberto Gonzales mishandled top secret documents, risking the release of classified information about two of the Bush administration's most sensitive counterterrorism efforts - a surveillance program and detainee interrogations.

Mishandling classified materials violates Justice Department regulations and removing them from special secure facilities without proper authorization is a crime. But a report issued Tuesday by the Justice Department's inspector general says the agency decided not to press charges against Gonzales, who resigned under fire last year.

Lawyers for Gonzales acknowledge he did not store or protect the top secret documents - a set of handwritten notes about the surveillance program and 17 other papers - as he should have. But they say he did not intentionally risk letting unauthorized people see them, and say there's no evidence that occurred.

The report by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine is the latest taking Gonzales to task for mismanagement at the department during his 31 months as attorney general. The criticism could foreshadow the results of an ongoing investigation by Fine's office about Gonzales' role in the 2006 firings of nine U.S. attorneys. That inquiry is expected to be finished within months.

"Like all other department employees, Gonzales was responsible for safeguarding classified materials, familiarizing himself with the facilities available to him ... for storing these materials and observing the rules and procedures for the proper handling of classified materials," Fine's report stated. "Our investigation found that Gonzales did not fulfill these obligations and instead mishandled highly classified documents about the NSA surveillance program and a detainee interrogation program."

"NSA" stands for National Security Agency, which ran a controversial surveillance program that let investigators eavesdrop on terror suspects and people believed to be their associates.

At issue is how, and where, Gonzales stored the documents, which are classified as sensitive compartmentalized information, or SCI.

SCI materials are among the highest and most sensitive levels of classified top secret documents and usually relate to national security cases. They are supposed to be stored only in special safes or facilities that can be accessed only by certain people with SCI security clearances.

At the Justice Department, however, Gonzales kept the documents in a safe in a fifth-floor office in the attorney general's suite - which is not considered an SCI facility. In August 2007, investigators found, the safe was searched by two employees who did not have SCI clearances but who looked through it "document by document" for papers requested through the Freedom of Information Act.

Additionally, the report found, Gonzales also took some SCI documents - specifically, the notes about the surveillance program - to his house in suburban Virginia as he was moving from his secure counsel's office at the White House in early 2005 to the Justice Department.

Although he initially said he believed he kept the documents in a safe at his home, Gonzales later told investigators that he did not know the combination of the safe. He said he may have kept the papers in his briefcase and did not always lock it.

In a response to the report, Gonzales' lawyers indicated the former attorney general was merely forgetful or unaware of the proper way to handle the top secret papers.

"Judge Gonzales regrets this lapse," concluded the lawyers' response, which was written by Gonzales attorney George Terwilliger.

However, Tuesday's report showed Gonzales was briefed on how to properly handle SCI material both while at the White House and at the Justice Department.

As a result of the security breach, Gonzales could lose any remaining security clearances he may still have. Fine's investigators alerted the NSA and the Justice Department's internal security officials to alert them that the top secret information may have been compromised.

Fine also referred the case to prosecutors at the Justice Department's National Security Division to see if charges should be brought against Gonzales. It is a misdemeanor for U.S. government employees to knowingly remove classified documents from authorized areas without proper permission.

But the department decided against prosecuting Gonzales after an internal review that began earlier this year, said Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd.

"After conducting a thorough review of the matter and consulting with senior career officials inside and outside of the division, the NSD ultimately determined that prosecution should be declined," Boyd said in a statement.

[tngreen]

DOJ airs Gonzales'' crimes but refuses to charge him with crimes; Pelosi says that impeachment is "off the table," one public official after the other gets caught red handed but nobody goes to jail. Why? WHY? No wonder good people are not interested in entering public service--your colleagues would all be crooks. If we want to elevate the quality of people holding public office, we have got to get serious about addressing the crime and corruption that are rampant in our government.

[no2zeebas]

-She has acknowledged smoking marijuana in the past.

Posted by XmanBorg at 12:18 PM : Sep 03, 2008

Big deal...Have you NOT read obammys book where he admits to being so stoned on drugs that he can''t remember his high school years?

[xmanborg]

Sarah Palin = Miss PORK BARREL SPENDER if you were tuned into NPR radio this morning.

The Bridge to Noware well McPalin canceled the project but kept over 300 million dollars of federal money for the state of Alaska. All you Republicans Look up Sarah Palins, ear marks and pork barrel spending he has whipped up for Alaska.

Now TONIGHT, on STAGE, is John McLame get ready to be energized with McLames mono-tone voice he is so ENERGIZING TO WATCH its like watching Paint Dry.

How will John McLame get ready for his big night tonight, A Fresh Pair of Depends, A snack that consists of Cream Corn, Over Cooked Carrots and nice double helping of SALISBURY STEAK and a glass of prune juice, oh and some All American Apple Pie with whip Cream.

McLame might have to poop 1/2 way thru the event and that is why he has fresh depends on. So watch for thoes facial expressions he will be pinching one off right there in front of millions and on statge.

[bks59]

-She has acknowledged smoking marijuana in the past.



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Posted by XmanBorg at 12:18 PM : Sep 03, 2008

had to be a lot more potent than pot to come up with those children''s names

[betty2700631]

put him in jail and the world become peace,by the way I have met many mature *** women on --B O O M E R C U P I D .COM/--boomercupid has become more and more populare for meeting mature men and women.

[xmanborg]

John McCain''''s campaign on Wednesday angrily called for an end to questions about running mate Sarah Palin''''s background, calling it a "faux media scandal designed to destroy the first female Republican nominee" for vice president.

Here is some INFO ABOUT John McLame''''s choice for V.P

-A private attorney is authorized to spend $95,000 of state money to defend her against accusations of abuse of power.
-Palin sought pork-barrel projects for her city and state, contrary to her reformist image.
-Her husband once belonged to a fringe political group in Alaska, with some members supporting secession from the United States.
-She has acknowledged smoking marijuana in the past.

[aldon61]

Where''s the surprise here? An incompetent President appoints an incompetent Attorney General; people, this story was totally predictable! I hope the full investigation concludes after the innaugaration, because King George will pardon this SOB when his crimes are proven. Even McCain won''t let this one drop, this man is a traitor and needs to be punished!

[jjp735i]

Gonzales mishandled his job period!

[janefondu]

Tony Rezko was promised a pardon IF.....

[kansas1946]

Former Attorney General Will Not Be Prosecuted For Potential Security Breach
***********************************

Of course he won''t. Republicans do not believe in law, so he will just fade into history. Of course, that is not all bad. If I never see him again, it will be a blessing.

[fiteit1]

President Bush surrounded himself by the worst Americans such as D. Cheney, Ron Rumsfield, Gonzales, Meirs, etc.

Bush would have been the best president only if he had not hired these Idiots on his cabinet.

-------------------------
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Posted by lovegetpeace

But with out them acting as his brain all we would have had is a scarecrow. We would have been better off with toto.

[misha128-2009]

And DOJ says they will not prosecute -- Anyone suprised?

[lovegetpeace]

President Bush surrounded himself by the worst Americans such as D. Cheney, Ron Rumsfield, Gonzales, Meirs, etc.

Bush would have been the best president only if he had not hired these Idiots on his cabinet.

I know NeoCons plan is to place the worst candidates in government so they mess up government and American hate more government. However, you do not beat yourself up.

[dowjones20k]

HAHA

All you little children .... heres a little more info for you ..

Former President Clinton''s national security adviser is under criminal investigation for taking highly classified terrorism documents that should have been turned over to the independent commission probing the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Berger and his lawyer said Monday night he knowingly removed the handwritten notes by placing them in his jacket, pants and socks, and also inadvertently took copies of actual classified documents in a leather portfolio.


It happens ... at least Gonzales kept them in his office and didnt STEAL them .... You children are goofs ...

Enjoy ...

[kansas1946]

Gonzales. I never can decide if this guy is just stupid, or if he is really evil. I am leaning towards the latter since Bush likes him. This has got to be the most corrupt, dangerous, treasonist, administration in the history of our country. And here I thought Nixon was bad. No comparison. Nixon looks like a saint compared to Bush.

[b-gene]

Well, in case you can''''t tell, it''''s not about what the people want in this country.


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Posted by lochlan at 02:12 PM : Sep 02, 2008


So so true. So so ad, but true.

[jsl45]

He messed up everything else he touched why would be hard for us to believe he played loose with state secrets.....just another Bush dumb nut.

[talkingham]

Don''t worry, Bush will give him a medal too just like he did for the CIA chief who lied for him about the run-up to Iraq.

[lovegetpeace]

President Bush will Pardon Gonzales in a heartbeat before 20-Jan-2009.

[thickredhair]

while he is being arrested for treason they should go ahead and arrest the rest of the bush adminstration