Risch bashes Obama administration for leaks on potential retaliation for Libya attack

By Ramsey Cox - 10/22/12 04:08 PM ET

Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) criticized the Obama administration Monday over security leaks he said were perpetrated by administration officials regarding U.S. affairs in the Middle East.

Risch, along with Republican Sens. Saxby Chambliss (Ga.), Olympia Snowe (Maine), Richard Burr (N.C.), Dan Coats (Ind.), Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.), sent the administration a letter asking for information about the disclosure of classified information involving potential retaliation for the death of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens, who was killed with three other Americans in the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012.

The senators’ letter follows a report from The Associated Press that three current and one former administration official released details about "special operations strike forces," the movement of "drones into the skies above Africa" and "possible retaliatory strikes from Libya to Mali, if U.S. investigators can find the al Qaida linked group responsible for the death of the U.S. ambassador in Libya."

“If the information in the story is true, it doesn't make any sense why somebody would provide that to the press and give those responsible an opportunity to protect themselves,” Risch said in a statement Monday. “If this information is true and was authorized to be disclosed, we need to know who authorized it and why. If it was in fact a leak then we need to know what is being done to find and prosecute the perpetrators."

The purpose of the letter, written by all of the Republican members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, was to request information on whether the report was accurate and whether the information provided to the AP was authorized. It also asked whether criminal prosecution will be taken if the release wasn't authorized.

“We are troubled that administration officials appear to be publicly discussing classified matters, thereby potentially impeding the success of any action that may be taken against those responsible for the September 11, 2012, terrorist attack in Libya,” the letter stated. “Given the significant policy and oversight issues that the actions described in the this article may present, we also request that administration officials be made immediately available to discuss with the relevant congressional committees whether there are any plans for action, including under what specific authorities such action would be conducted.”