Feinstein Statement on Investigations of National Security Leaks

Statement

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today issued the following statement on Attorney General Eric Holder's appointment of two U.S. Attorneys to investigate recent national security leaks:

"Attorney General Holder informed me on Friday of his intent to appoint U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ronald C. Machen, Jr., and U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein to head criminal investigations into recent allegations of unauthorized disclosures of classified information.

I strongly support the attorney general's actions, as this is the best way for investigations to move quickly and with appropriate independence.

Both U.S. attorneys are well respected and were confirmed to their positions unanimously by the U.S. Senate. They will head investigations that are already under way by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and I am assured they will follow the facts of the case wherever they may lead.

I believe appointing U.S. attorneys will move these investigations faster than establishing special prosecutors, and their experience will aid Congress and the executive branch as we look to strengthen the law and administrative measures to deter, identify, investigate and prosecute leaks.

Leaks of classified information have caused serious damage to our national security. They have put intelligence sources at risk, damaged our relationships with foreign partners, exposed ways of collecting valuable information and put our adversaries on heightened alert. These leaks must stop."

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