Deutch to testify before Senate on computer use

February 17, 2000
Web posted at: 8:52 p.m. EST (0152 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former CIA Director John Deutch will testify next week before the Senate Intelligence Committee to answer questions about why he used his unsecured home computer to store classified information.

At the time Deutch left the agency in late 1996, CIA security officials discovered top-secret documents on Deutch's home computer, in violation of CIA policy.

The 74 classified documents included memos to the president and other Cabinet officials as well as classified material from the time Deutch served as deputy defense secretary.

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Last April, a Justice Department investigation concluded there were no grounds for criminal prosecution.

The CIA's inspector general issued a classified report last summer that led CIA Director George Tenet to suspend Deutch's security clearance, the toughest action possible against the former official.

Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Alabama, has said he does not believe "this is an inadvertent action where Deutch may have slipped up."

"This looks like a deliberate process or one of arrogance," he said. Shelby wants Deutch to explain his actions.

The committee chairman also is upset over what he feels was obvious "foot-dragging" by the CIA during its investigation.

The CIA did not notify the Justice Department, the congressional oversight committees or the White House about the allegations until more than a year after the classified documents were found on Deutch's computer.

Tenet has testified there was "no excuse" for the delay, but he maintained the bottom line is that the investigation was completed and action was taken against Deutch.

Shelby has indicated he wants to hear more from Tenet and other CIA officials involved in the probe.

The Pentagon said Thursday it is conducting its own probe of whether Deutch compromised secret intelligence programs.

"The review is taking two paths," said Rear Adm. Craig Quigley during a Pentagon briefing. "One is content ... what specific material was contained therein. The second is process -- how could this have happened in the first place?"

The first review has been assigned to members of the Defense Department's staff. The second review is being handled by the Pentagon's inspector general.

"We're taking a look at the material (from a classified CIA/inspector general report) that was provided to us nine, ten days ago."

Quigley would not say whether the investigation includes compromises of so-called ultrasecret "black programs."

"All material that they (CIA officials) felt we'd be interested in was provided to us," said Quigley.

He said he had not seen the information handed over by the CIA and could not say whether it included a description of the material or the original content itself.

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