Gorelick Documents Show Clear Need for Her Testimony, Contradict Earlier Characterizations of Her Involvement
GORELICK DOCUMENTS SHOW CLEAR NEED FOR HER TESTIMONY, CONTRADICT EARLIER CHARACTERIZATIONS OF HER INVOLVEMENT
Simply put, this is a self-inflicted wound on the credibility of the 9/11 Commission
WASHINGTON - In response to a written request from U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the Department of Justice released documents Wednesday which substantially discredit the former Deputy Attorney General-and current 9/11 Commission member-Jamie Gorelick's claims of limited involvement in the promulgation of "the wall" separating counterintelligence and law enforcement agencies. Specifically, the documents show that she was substantially involved in the development of the information sharing policy, and contradicts statements that the department's policies under the Clinton-Reno administration enhanced, rather than restricted, such vital information sharing.
"These documents show what I've said all along: Commissioner Gorelick has special knowledge of the facts and circumstances leading up to the erection and buttressing of 'that wall' that, before the enactment of the Patriot Act, was the primary obstacle to the sharing of communications between law enforcement and intelligence agencies," Cornyn said. "This is a person with knowledge of relevant facts. Either the Commission wants the whole truth, or it does not. If it does, she should appear in public testimony so that the families of the victims, the American people and the Congress can have a full and complete picture of what led to the failures of 9/11."
Cornyn continued, "Let me be clear, no one is assigning blame other than where it belongs-with Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. But a request for public testimony by Ms. Gorelick, in letters signed by a number of Senators, has now been refused by Chairman Kean and Vice Chairman Hamilton. Simply put, this is a self-inflicted wound on the credibility of the 9/11 Commission. It is my sincere hope, in light of this new information, that they will reconsider their decision and let the nation have the benefit of knowledge and understanding of how 'the wall' was created and strengthened under her watch." The documents are posted on the Department of Justice website at: