Orrin Hatch's Intelligence Question

[babylonsister]

http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2007/04/orrin_hatchs_in.html#more

Orrin Hatch's Intelligence Question

by emptywheel

I didn't get to watch big chunks of the hearings so I had to read through the transcripts this morning. And I wanted to call attention to some interesting details. In this post, let's look at an odd interchange between Hatch and Gonzales. The Senator is setting up the patented Scooter Libby defense for AGAG, rehearsing how many Very Important things AGAG does, perhaps to win him sympathy (I hope to return to a post on Hatch's interesting role as the lone hold-out in AGAG support). He walks through how involved AGAG is with the White House. And then he portrays AGAG as centrally involved in matters of intelligence:

HATCH: You spend a lot of time down at the White House as well, don't you?

GONZALES: I don't spend as much time as I used to spend at the White House.



HATCH: The president wants to see you, you're on call, right?

GONZALES: Of course.

HATCH: You go to intelligence meetings, right?

GONZALES: That is correct.

HATCH: Among various intelligence factions of government...

GONZALES: Yes. We...

HATCH: ... for important meetings?

GONZALES: From time to time, we do have meetings relating to threats to United States interests overseas and, of course, threats to the homeland.

HATCH: In fact, I've been in some of those intelligence meetings with you, in the secure room in the White House, right?

GONZALES: We do have intelligence briefings from time to time, in the Situation Room, yes, sir.

Now, I think I understand what Hatch is trying to do here--as I said, it's the Very Important man defense which--according to some Republicans, I guess--absolves you of all legal crime and requirements for basic competence. But it raises two questions. How many intelligence meetings is AGAG sitting in on? I understand he needs to understand what happens to FISA, NSLs, and FBI investigations (though his interest on most parts should relate to oversight issues). But is his role in these intelligence briefings passing beyond the role of chief law enforcement officer and into the realm of intelligence policy? I don't know where that line should be drawn, but given AGAG's clear partisan bias and his apparent incomptence, I'd like to know precisely what role AGAG was playing in these meetings.

And while we're discussing that question, what role was Orrin Hatch playing at these Situation Room meetings? Hatch was not in the Gang of Eight (the minority and majority leaders of the House and Senate, plus the minority and majority leaders of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees who are read into the most classified intelligence activities). Yes, he's on both the Intelligence and Judiciary committees--but so are Senators Feingold and Feinstein. So are these Situation Room meetings something just for wingnuts from UT, or is it something else?

[montanacowboy]

1. Being groomed to be the next AG

Bingo

[LiberalFighter]

2. How many times has the AG been called to the WH other than regular scheduled meeting?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. since Hatch was linked to the Texas S & L scandal some years ago

it wouldn't surprise me that he was playing some sinister role in the SR.