WASHINGTON - U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Energy Subcommittee Chairman Randy Weber (R-Texas) today sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Acting Inspector General Rickey Haas requesting all documents and communication referring to a leak of classified information identified by committee staff.
On June 21 Chairmen Smith and Weber wrote the FBI to request an investigation of what appears to be a leak of classified information, which may have been made as part of an effort to garner support for the Obama administration’s nuclear agreement with Iran, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The chairmen also wrote the DOE Office of Inspector General to determine if the Department had undertaken an internal review of the incident. Based on information provided by each agency, it appears that each involved agency is placing the responsibility for pursuing this leak of classified information elsewhere.
“While both involved agencies claim that these protocols were followed, it is also clear that no investigation into a leak of classified information is taking place. Several statutes provide both criminal and civil penalties for unauthorized disclosure of classified information. Since these statutes would most certainly be applicable given the facts in this case, it is disturbing that no investigation has been undertaken by the appropriate federal agencies. This is even more concerning given the fact that this leak appears to be politically motivated, and may have been part of a coordinated effort by the Obama Administration to garner support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action prior to its adoption,” today’s letter states.
The committee seeks to ensure that an appropriate investigation is undertaken to determine the motivation and source of this leak of classified information, and to stop further dissemination of classified information.
Today’s letter to FBI Director Comey can be found here.
Today’s letter to DOE Acting Inspector General Rickey Haas can be found here.