Group gripes about Boehner

Says talk on TV violated security

7 Aug 2007 // A liberal watchdog group filed a complaint with the Justice Department on Monday alleging that House Minority Leader John Boehner of West Chester leaked classified information during a TV interview.

The complaint involves a July 31 TV interview with Fox News in which Boehner said a Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act court ruled recently to restrict the U.S. intelligence community's surveillance of suspected terrorists overseas.

Boehner, the top Republican in the House, commented on the ruling in an attempt to blame Democrats for failing to pass legislation overriding the court's decision.

"The Democrats have known about this for months," Boehner said. "We have had private conversations, we have had public conversations that this needs to be fixed."

• CREW complaint (PDF)

The Senate passed legislation late Friday to allow the surveillance, and the House passed the bill Saturday.

Still, Melanie Sloan, executive director of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said that does not excuse Boehner's comments.

"By revealing classified information, the minority leader of the House of Representatives appears to have compromised national security for partisan political gain," she said. "We urge the Justice Department to immediately commence an investigation."

Brian Kennedy, a spokesman for Boehner, called the complaint "laughable" and said the ruling Boehner was referring to came from a letter sent to several members of Congress from Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. Boehner's office provided The Enquirer a copy of the Jan. 17 letter.

Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said the agency does not comment on whether it plans to investigate someone.