Pentagon May Halt Ex-CIA Chief’s Access

The Pentagon is examining whether to end all security clearances for former CIA director John M. Deutch, Defense Secretary William S. Cohen said. Cohen acknowledged for the first time that Deutch has maintained access to “some top-secret information in terms of a narrow area of technology,” even though the CIA revoked his clearances at the agency last summer because he had kept classified documents on a home computer. As a defense industry consultant, Deutch retains limited clearances, Cohen said, adding that taking them away would require a legal determination. “There must be a compelling level of evidence that would support removing him from income-producing activities,” Cohen said.