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Holder addresses AP leaks investigation, announces IRS probe
http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/14/18253923-holder-addresses-ap-leaks-investigation-announces-irs-probe?lite
Attorney General Eric Holder told reporters Tuesday that he recused himself last year from any involvement in an investigation of national security leaks.
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Attorney General Eric Holder speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, Tuesday, May 14, 2013.
Holder also announced Tuesday that he has ordered an investigation to see if there were criminal violations in the Internal Revenue Service scrutiny of conservative political groups that had sought non-profit status.
On the leaks case, Holder – who is slated to testify before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday afternoon -- reminded reporters that he testified to a congressional committee last year that he had recused himself to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
The Associated Press reported Monday that phone records of its reporters and editors had been subpoenaed and seized in that probe.
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Holder said decisions in that investigation were being made by Deputy Attorney General James Cole and “the deputy attorney general would have been the one who ultimately had to authorize the subpoena that went to the AP.”
He added that since he was recused from the investigation, “I’m not familiar with all that went into the formulation of the subpoena.”
He also said he could not explain why voluntary cooperation wasn’t sought from the Associated Press before the subpoena was executed.
US Attorney General Eric Holder says he's asked the FBI to investigate the "outrageous and unacceptable" behavior at the IRS, and to see if any criminal actions were taken by the agency.
“I am confident that the people who are involved in this investigation, who I know for a great many years and who I’ve worked with for a great many years, followed all of the appropriate Justice Department regulations and did things according to DOJ rules,” Holder said.
He added that it “certainly not the policy of this administration” to target reporters. What has been done in the leaks investigation was, he said, “not as a result of a policy to get the press.”
Referring to the leaks of national security information, Holder said, “This was a very, very serious leak. I’ve been a prosecutor since 1976 – and I have to say that this is among, if not the most serious, in the top two or three most serious leaks that I’ve ever seen. It put the American people at risk – and that is not hyperbole.”
Trying to find out who leaked the information “required very aggressive action,” Holder said.
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D- Nev., on Tuesday joined other congressional critics of the Justice Department’s search of SAP’ phone records telling reporters “I have trouble defending what the DOJ did. It’s inexcusable. There is no way to justify this.”
In a letter to Holder on Monday, Associated Press President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Pruitt said, "There can be no possible justification for such an overbroad collection of the telephone communications of The Associated Press and its reporters.” Pruitt complained that the records could “disclose information about AP's activities and operations that the government has no conceivable right to know."
In a response, Cole wrote to Pruitt Tuesday that seeking phone records from media organizations “is undertaken only after all other reasonable alternative investigative steps have been taken.” He said that the Justice Department sought the AP phone records only after a comprehensive investigation which included conducting over 550 interviews and reviewing of tens of thousands of documents.
Attorney General Eric Holder told reporters Tuesday that he recused himself last year from any involvement in an investigation of national security leaks.
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Attorney General Eric Holder speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, Tuesday, May 14, 2013.
Holder also announced Tuesday that he has ordered an investigation to see if there were criminal violations in the Internal Revenue Service scrutiny of conservative political groups that had sought non-profit status.
On the leaks case, Holder – who is slated to testify before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday afternoon -- reminded reporters that he testified to a congressional committee last year that he had recused himself to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
The Associated Press reported Monday that phone records of its reporters and editors had been subpoenaed and seized in that probe.
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Holder said decisions in that investigation were being made by Deputy Attorney General James Cole and “the deputy attorney general would have been the one who ultimately had to authorize the subpoena that went to the AP.”
He added that since he was recused from the investigation, “I’m not familiar with all that went into the formulation of the subpoena.”
He also said he could not explain why voluntary cooperation wasn’t sought from the Associated Press before the subpoena was executed.
US Attorney General Eric Holder says he's asked the FBI to investigate the "outrageous and unacceptable" behavior at the IRS, and to see if any criminal actions were taken by the agency.
“I am confident that the people who are involved in this investigation, who I know for a great many years and who I’ve worked with for a great many years, followed all of the appropriate Justice Department regulations and did things according to DOJ rules,” Holder said.
He added that it “certainly not the policy of this administration” to target reporters. What has been done in the leaks investigation was, he said, “not as a result of a policy to get the press.”
Referring to the leaks of national security information, Holder said, “This was a very, very serious leak. I’ve been a prosecutor since 1976 – and I have to say that this is among, if not the most serious, in the top two or three most serious leaks that I’ve ever seen. It put the American people at risk – and that is not hyperbole.”
Trying to find out who leaked the information “required very aggressive action,” Holder said.
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D- Nev., on Tuesday joined other congressional critics of the Justice Department’s search of SAP’ phone records telling reporters “I have trouble defending what the DOJ did. It’s inexcusable. There is no way to justify this.”
In a letter to Holder on Monday, Associated Press President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Pruitt said, "There can be no possible justification for such an overbroad collection of the telephone communications of The Associated Press and its reporters.” Pruitt complained that the records could “disclose information about AP's activities and operations that the government has no conceivable right to know."
In a response, Cole wrote to Pruitt Tuesday that seeking phone records from media organizations “is undertaken only after all other reasonable alternative investigative steps have been taken.” He said that the Justice Department sought the AP phone records only after a comprehensive investigation which included conducting over 550 interviews and reviewing of tens of thousands of documents.
I don't think any President is really thinking of the greater good when he appoints someone to a position. I think it is a favor with something else attached. It smells of personal gain to me.
I was not meaning to sound cocky, sorry if I did. I truly am genuine because we have heard how this is unheard of and all and how the irs is non political. It just aint so. Bush appointed Shumer?Presidents appoint these commissioners, altho the irs is insulated from the executive branch they say, but how is that possible with presidents making the appointments? How insulated can they be and how non political can they be? I have whiplash with all these stories at once. lol
I was only kidding Teko, chill;-)
I actually don't recall the 2004 thing you referred to, sorry.
I was being a smart-a$$... apologies.
I actually don't recall the 2004 thing you referred to, sorry.
I was being a smart-a$$... apologies.
Is that what you got out of what I said?Did you miss this line altogether?
In other words, it would appear that this is NOT as unusual as one would have us believe.
And I will reiterate my other thought as well. Do you remember the outrage then by these same people screaming now? I dont!
In other words, it would appear that this is NOT as unusual as one would have us believe.
And I will reiterate my other thought as well. Do you remember the outrage then by these same people screaming now? I dont!
What's good for the goose...
It was done to the Left back in 2004, so it's only reasonable & right that's it's now being done to the Right.
No?
It was done to the Left back in 2004, so it's only reasonable & right that's it's now being done to the Right.
No?
Yes, I agree. Altho I do remember when Obama was under attack for not getting to the bottom of security leaks and now? LOL It will be interesting to see what comes out on this.
I also wonder where was the outrage by these same people back in 2004 when the NAACP went thru basically the same thing a month before an election regarding their tax exempt status, that continued for 2 years. In other words, it would appear that this is NOT as unusual as one would have us believe. I believe I heard other liberal groups like greenpeace was also targeted. Regardless, it is unacceptable but Im guessing this story will change as well as time goes on. We will see.
I also wonder where was the outrage by these same people back in 2004 when the NAACP went thru basically the same thing a month before an election regarding their tax exempt status, that continued for 2 years. In other words, it would appear that this is NOT as unusual as one would have us believe. I believe I heard other liberal groups like greenpeace was also targeted. Regardless, it is unacceptable but Im guessing this story will change as well as time goes on. We will see.
I'm going to reserve my comments until the investigation or "probe" is complete..
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