Shelby source of intelligence leaks, probe finds

By The Washington Post

Sen. Richard Shelby is accused of leaking messages.

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Specifically, Fox News chief political correspondent Carl Cameron confirmed to FBI investigators that Shelby verbally divulged the information to him during a June 19, 2002, interview, minutes after Shelby's committee had been given the information in a classified briefing, according to the sources, who declined to be identified.

Cameron did not air the material. Moments after Shelby spoke with Cameron, the senator met with CNN's Dana Bash, and CNN, citing "two congressional sources," broadcast the material about half an hour later, the sources said.

The FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office pursued the case, and a grand jury was empanelled, but nobody has been charged. It was revealed last month that the Justice Department had decided to forgo a criminal prosecution, at least for now, and turned the matter over to the Senate ethics committee. The Justice Department declined to comment on why it no longer was pursuing the matter criminally. The Senate ethics panel also declined to comment.

The disclosure involved two messages that were intercepted by the National Security Agency on the eve of the Sept. 11 attacks but were not translated until Sept. 12. The Arabic-language messages said "The match is about to begin" and "Tomorrow is zero hour."

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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