CREW ASKS “IS THE VICE PRESIDENT CREATING A FOURTH BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT?”
Contact:
Naomi Seligman Steiner
22 Jun 2007 // Washington, DC –
In light of new revelations that Vice President Cheney is claiming that his office is not subject to an executive order governing the handling of classified information because as president of the Senate he has both legislative and executive duties, CREW asks if Vice President Cheney is attempting to create a fourth branch of the government? Under his argument, if Mr. Cheney is not subject to executive branch security requirements, surely he must be subject to Senate rules.To safeguard sensitive information, in 1987 the Senate created the Office of Senate Security, which is part of the Secretary of the Senate. The Security Office’s standards, procedures and requirements are set out in the Senate Security Manual, which is binding on all employees of the Senate.
So, if Mr. Cheney is a member of the Senate, he must adhere to the following:•a requirement that any of his staff needing access to classified information undergo a security clearance and complete written non-disclosure agreements;
•physical security requirements, that the Security Office is empowered to implement, including any necessary inspections;
•investigations of suspected security violations by employees, such as the security violation committed by Scooter Libby when he unlawfully disclosed the identity of Valerie Plame Wilson, then a covert CIA operative.
In addition, Mr. Cheney and his staff would be subject to investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee, which has the responsibility to investigate allegations of improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate, including violations of law and the rules and regulations of the Senate.
more at:
http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/29166