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AMERICAN ARISTOCRACY
Is Dick Cheney Trying to Create
His Own 4th Branch of Government
In a nation where everyone is supposed to be equal,
why does our vice president elevate himself above the law?
Naomi Seligman
Dick Cheney is trying to create
a new legal status for himself. This latest development raises
serious new questions about Cheney -- and who, if anyone, has authority
over his actions.
In light of new revelations
that Vice President Cheney claims his
office is not subject to an executive
order governing the handling of classified
information because as president of
the Senate he has both legislative
and executive duties, CREW asks if
Vice President Cheney is attempting
to create a fourth branch of the government?
Under his argument, if Mr. Cheney is not subject to executive
branch security requirements, surely he must be subject to Senate rules.
To safeguard sensitive information, in 1987 the Senate
created the Office of Senate Security, which is part of the Secretary
of the Senate. The Security Office's standards, procedures and requirements
are set out in the Senate Security Manual, which is binding on all employees
of the Senate.
So, if Mr. Cheney is a member of the Senate, he must
adhere to the following.
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a requirement that any of his staff needing access to classified
information undergo a security clearance and complete written non-disclosure
agreements;
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physical security requirements, that the Security Office is empowered
to implement, including any necessary inspections; and
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investigations of suspected security violations by employees,
such as the security violation committed by Scooter Libby when he
unlawfully disclosed the identity of Valerie Plame Wilson, then a
covert CIA operative.
In addition, Mr. Cheney and his staff would be subject to investigation
by the Senate Ethics Committee, which has the responsibility to investigate
allegations of improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate,
including violations of law and the rules and regulations of the
Senate.
Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and
Ethics in Washington said Mr. Cheney's arguments raise new questions:
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Since there is no fourth branch of government to which Mr. Cheney
could belong, by claiming the Office of the Vice President is within
the legislative branch, does Mr. Cheney agree that he is subject
to Senate security procedures?
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Mr. Cheney's office refused to describe its 2003 classification
activities to the National Archives and Record Administration (NARA),
but is he now willing to describe them to the Senate Security Office?
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If Mr. Cheney does not believe that NARA's Information Security
Oversight Office can conduct on-sight inspection of Mr. Cheney's
office to see how sensitive material is handled, does he agree that
the Senate Security Office can conduct such an inspection?
We'd really like some answers
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IMPEACHMENT MEET-UP!
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Impeachment is vitally important
to maintaining our democracy.
Failure to initiate impeachment procedures
opens the door for subsequent administrations, Democrat or Republican,
to easily abuse their power due to the Bush Administration's
legal precedents.
House
Resolution 333 to Impeach Cheney is under consideration by the
Judiciary Committee. Please let Todd
Platts know that you would like him to co-sponsor and/or vote for
this resolution.
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