Issa’s leak to CNN contributed to ire over Lam

[sabra]

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/issas-leak-to-cnn-contributed-to-ire-over-lam-2007-03-22.html

Issa’s leak to CNN contributed to ire over Lam

Rep. Darrell Issa’s (R-Calif.) release of an anonymously authored Border Patrol report to CNN’s Lou Dobbs last year led to growing resentment of former U.S. Attorney Carol Lam within the Department of Justice (DoJ) seven months before she was fired, according to administration e-mails released Wednesday night.

...

But tensions among DoJ officials toward Lam appeared to spike after Issa leaked a report claiming that the lack of border-smuggling prosecutions was lowering morale in the Border Patrol agency to Dobbs and appeared on his show lambasting Lam for lax immigration prosecutions.

...

Issa’s release of the report and the subsequent alarm over Lam’s unilateral action came during a critical period in Lam’s wide-ranging investigation into the bribery scandal that had already convicted then-Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.).

The CNN report aired May 22; Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has said that on May 10 Lam notified the DoJ that she planned to issue search warrants in a criminal probe of defense contractor Brent Wilkes and Kyle “Dusty” Foggo, two days after Foggo had resigned as the third-ranking CIA official amid questions about his ties to Cunningham. Former Rep. Porter Goss (R-Fla.) had resigned from the CIA unexpectedly just three days before Foggo.

The day after Lam informed DoJ about the search warrants, Kyle Sampson, then-chief of staff to Gonzales, sent an e-mail message to William Kelley, a deputy White House counsel, about the real reason they should dismiss Lam.

[robinlynne]

1. There is a very important fact missing in the HIlls article. After all of this happened,

the DOJ issued a strong statement upholding Carol lam's version of events. It was a letter to Issa and to Feinstein, informing them that Issa was wrong. And full of data about why Issa was wrong.
And more, why didn't DOJ get upset about Issa putting his crap on cnn?
and one more thing, Issa's complaint was also signed by Duke Cunningham, and 14 other republicans. no democrats.

[Kool Kitty]

2. The DOJ probably told Issa to leak it.

It wouldn't surprise me.

[robinlynne]

3. me neither. they also omit that issa's letter was also signed by cunningham, which i find relevant.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Issa is his own hitman

though there is also some non matching of facts between the letters sent to both Issa and Feinstein and the drafts for it.

[robinlynne]

5. what was different? I didn't notice that. anything significant?

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Mostly in the language chosen

there were changes in the final language

[EC]

7. definately, they wanted to delay Cunningham's trial

and start a paper trial to get rid of her before he got to trial....that's what DeLay was trying too.

[loudsue]

10. Ya, or more like Rove or Cheney.

Lam's investigation was about to land on Cheney's door step, and I don't think boy Karl or Darth Vader were ready for it.

:kick:

[upi402]

9. my my

very important

and more.. where has Feinstein wandered off to? i don't get it.

[fooj]

6. Issa is a slimy, venomous snake.

Seriously. He's the only Congressman who was allowed to share in Jrs. "special dress-up" day...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

I've always suspected that was a pay-off...

He's the one who was a COMPLETE DICK to the widows in a hearing. Then he plays "rational, reasonable" guy on Real Time. He is bad to the bone. Ughhh.