CIA, DOD probing whether bin Laden secrets were leaked

By Pete Kasperowicz - 01/05/12 03:05 PM ET

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Pete King (R-N.Y.) says the Defense Department and the Central Intelligence Agency are investigating whether classified information was released to filmmakers on how Osama bin Laden was killed.

King received confirmation of the investigation in letters from Defense and the CIA that he made public on Thursday.

"Following a shockingly dismissive response to my request from White House press secretary Jay Carney, I am pleased that the inspectors general at DOD and the CIA agree with me that potential leaks to filmmakers are something worth investigating and taking action to address," King said.

"The leaks that followed the successful bin Laden mission led to the arrests of Pakistanis and put in danger the mission’s heroes and their families," he said. "Privately, individuals in the intelligence and special operations communities expressed support for my request for a probe. I look forward to an update on the investigation and actions taken thus far."

DOD's letter, dated Dec. 23, includes a Dec. 10 document from Deputy Inspector General for Intelligence and Special Program Assessments Patricia Brannin that says, "We plan to begin subject investigation immediately."

King has sought an investigation since the summer, when he cited reports that people making a movie about bin Laden's killing were receiving classified information.

These charges led one House Republican to introduce legislation that would prevent the Obama administration from sharing information in order to make a bin Laden movie that could be released later this year.

The White House dismissed King's concerns in August.

"We do not discuss classified information and I would hope as we face a continued threat from terrorism, the House Committee on Homeland Security would have more important topics to discuss than a movie," Carney said.