Tensions Rise Over Informing Congress

Tensions are mounting between Congress and the White House over how much information should be given to lawmakers on the investigation into the nation’s deadliest terrorist attack, a tiff that may stem in part from comments made by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) within hours of the assaults Tuesday.

Intelligence officials were upset that Hatch told reporters that intercepted electronic communications indicated that the attacks might have been carried out by militants associated with Osama bin Laden.

Hatch on Thursday denied that he had breached security. Asked whether administration officials had complained to him about his disclosures, he testily said, “not a person.” He added: “Nobody would dare do that.”

Still, President Bush and other members of his administration, without singling out anyone, pointedly have warned of the danger of leaks of classified information in a Washington now focused on international threats and moving toward a war footing.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Wednesday warned Pentagon employees against the lax handling of secrets that he said has become all too common.

Adm. Craig Quigley, a Pentagon spokesman, said Rumsfeld was “not referring to any specific person.” Rather, it has been “a long-standing concern of his, going back to January,” when Rumsfeld took office.

“It just drives him nuts,” Quigley added.

Bush on Thursday stressed his concern about leaks, telling reporters: “Any sources and methods of intelligence will remain guarded in secret. My administration will not talk about how we gather intelligence, if we gather intelligence and what the intelligence says. That’s for the protection of the American people. It is important, as we battle this enemy, to conduct ourselves that way.”

Meanwhile, some members of Congress are complaining that they have learned more about the investigation into Tuesday’s attacks from news outlets than from their closed-door briefings by intelligence officials.

The friction points to a difficult balancing act for the administration: preventing leaks while ensuring Congress knows enough to carry out its oversight duty.

“It’s a tricky business,” said Rep. Jane Harman (D-Venice), a member of the House Intelligence Committee. “It’s extremely important that secret information not get out. . . . I think there is a fear--and I believe it is somewhat legitimate--that Congress isn’t always good at keeping secrets.”

But she too complained that the briefings Congress has been getting from administration officials were less informative than some news reports.

Rep. Bob Filner (D-San Diego) said: “I should have had [television newscaster] Paula Zahn give the briefing. We would have learned more.”

Given Capitol Hill’s reputation as a fertile source of confidential information on a range of subjects, some lawmakers were sympathetic to the administration’s efforts to limit how much it is providing lawmakers.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said: “In general, there’s too much leaking going on. I can understand why we go to these briefings . . . and receive much less information than I do from television.”