Tweet
Fox News got an article up first, or its the first I found.
Thoughts?
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate went into closed session Tuesday after Democrats enacted a rare parliamentary rule forcing the shut down of the Senate so senators could speak in a classified session about the lead-up to the war in Iraq.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid demanded the chamber be closed so they could hold a secret session that they say was prompted by "misinformation and disinformation" given by the administration prior to entry into the war in Iraq.
"The purpose of this closed session in the Senate chamber is to finally give the truth to at least the members of the Senate, to finally call to task the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee," said House Minority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois.
Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., is the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Ranking Democrat Jay Rockefeller said Democrats were promised that oversight would be conducted on the war, but nothing has been done yet.
Durbin said Democrats want to discuss launching "phase two" of an investigation into whether President Bush and the administration misused data to justify war in Iraq. He added that the decision to call for a closed session was also prompted by the recent indictment of I. Lewis Libby, the vice president's former chief of staff, on five counts of perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements in the investigation into the leak of a CIA operative's identity.
Libby was not indicted for revealing Valerie Plame Wilson's name, but for not being forthcoming about where he learned her name and whom he told. The investigation is ongoing, however, Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald told reporters last week.
A closed session is called when any senator demands one and a second motion is made. No vote is taken on whether to close the session. The last time a closed session was held was 25 years ago, Rockefeller said.
During a closed session, the chamber is shut to cameras, a security sweep is performed, and then Reid introduces a resolution calling for the launch of "phase two" of the intelligence committee's investigation.
"It is within the power of the majority to close down the closed session. They can do it by majority vote to return to the legislative calendar," Durbin said. "We're serving notice on them at this moment: be prepared for this motion every day until you face the reality. The Senate Intelligence Committee has a responsibility."
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid demanded the chamber be closed so they could hold a secret session that they say was prompted by "misinformation and disinformation" given by the administration prior to entry into the war in Iraq.
"The purpose of this closed session in the Senate chamber is to finally give the truth to at least the members of the Senate, to finally call to task the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee," said House Minority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois.
Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., is the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Ranking Democrat Jay Rockefeller said Democrats were promised that oversight would be conducted on the war, but nothing has been done yet.
Durbin said Democrats want to discuss launching "phase two" of an investigation into whether President Bush and the administration misused data to justify war in Iraq. He added that the decision to call for a closed session was also prompted by the recent indictment of I. Lewis Libby, the vice president's former chief of staff, on five counts of perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements in the investigation into the leak of a CIA operative's identity.
Libby was not indicted for revealing Valerie Plame Wilson's name, but for not being forthcoming about where he learned her name and whom he told. The investigation is ongoing, however, Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald told reporters last week.
A closed session is called when any senator demands one and a second motion is made. No vote is taken on whether to close the session. The last time a closed session was held was 25 years ago, Rockefeller said.
During a closed session, the chamber is shut to cameras, a security sweep is performed, and then Reid introduces a resolution calling for the launch of "phase two" of the intelligence committee's investigation.
"It is within the power of the majority to close down the closed session. They can do it by majority vote to return to the legislative calendar," Durbin said. "We're serving notice on them at this moment: be prepared for this motion every day until you face the reality. The Senate Intelligence Committee has a responsibility."
Comment