Congressman Thomas J. Rooney

Rooney Asks Defense Department to Investigate Reported Leaks of Classified Information on bin Laden Raid

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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-16), a member of the House Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, today asked the Acting Inspector General (IG) of the Department of Defense (DOD) to investigate whether Defense officials gave classified information on the raid that killed Osama bin Laden to filmmakers, as has been reported, and if so, whether the release of classified information compromised America's national security.

“I am deeply disturbed by recent reports that officials at the Department of Defense may have leaked classified information to filmmakers regarding the raid that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden. If the allegations are true, these individuals’ actions could seriously compromise American national security,” Rooney wrote in a letter to Acting IG Lynne Halbrooks.

“As you know, our defense and intelligence communities rely heavily on the discretion of those trusted with classified information.  When that trust is broken, it not only puts critical security information at risk, it also endangers the security and safety of the persons involved.”

Rooney asked Acting IG Halbrooks to investigate:

•    Whether DOD officials provided classified information on the raid that killed Osama bin Laden to any individual that did not have the proper security clearance;
•    If so, which officials released this information, and which individuals within DOD or the Obama Administration approved the release of that information;
•    Whether the identities of the American troops who carried out the raid were revealed or otherwise compromised; and,
•    Whether America’s national security was compromised by the release of this material in any way.

Click HERE for a PDF of the letter.

Full text of the letter below:

Dear Acting Inspector General Halbrooks:

I am deeply disturbed by recent reports that officials at the Department of Defense may have leaked classified information to filmmakers regarding the raid that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden. If the allegations are true, these individuals’ actions could seriously compromise American national security.

As you know, our defense and intelligence communities rely heavily on the discretion of those trusted with classified information.  When that trust is broken, it not only puts critical security information at risk, it also endangers the security and safety of the persons involved. 

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I respectfully request that you investigate the following and respond to my office in a timely manner:

  1. Did Department of Defense officials provide any classified information on the raid that led to Osama bin Laden’s death to any individual who did not have the appropriate security clearance, including but not limited to filmmakers producing a film about the raid?
  2. If so, which officials released this information, and which individuals in the Department of Defense or the Obama Administration approved the release of that information?
  3. Were the identities of the American troops who carried out the raid that killed Osama bin Laden revealed or otherwise compromised in conversations between Department of Defense officials and any individual who did not have a proper security clearance, including but not limited to filmmakers?
  4. If Department of Defense or Administration officials did approve the release of classified material to individuals without the proper security clearance, what purpose and reasoning determined that the release of this information was vital to our national security? 
  5. Subsequently, was America’s national security compromised by this release in any way, including but not limited to the endangerment of the American troops who carried out the raid or by emboldening groups whose mission is to attack our country?

I look forward to receiving a response as quickly as possible.  If you have any questions about this request, please contact Drew Shoemaker in my office at 202-225-5792.

Sincerely,

Thomas J. Rooney
Member of Congress

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