Kathryn Jean Lopez at The Corner notes that Congressman James Sensenbrenner has called for the resignation of 9/11 Commissioner Jamie Gorelick:

Yesterday, a 1995 memo written by 9/11 Commission Member Jamie Gorelick, in her former role as the second in command at the Justice Department, revealed her actions in establishing the heightened 'wall' prohibiting the sharing of intelligence information and criminal information. Scrutiny of this policy lies at the heart of the Commission's work. Ms. Gorelick has an inherent conflict of interest as the author of this memo and as a government official at the center of the events in questions. Thus, I believe the Commission's work and independence will be fatally damaged by the continued participation of Ms. Gorelick as a Commissioner. Reluctantly, I have come to the conclusion that Ms. Gorelick should resign from this Commission.

"The Commission's Guidelines on Recusals state, 'Commissioners and staff will recuse themselves from investigating work they performed in prior government service.' Commissioner Gorelick's memo directing a policy that 'go[es] beyond what is legally required' indicates that her judgment and actions as the Deputy Attorney General in the Reno Justice Department are very much in question before the Commission. Indeed Attorney General Ashcroft called this DOJ policy, 'the single greatest structural cause for September 11 ... [and] embraced flawed legal reasoning.' Commissioner Gorelick is in the unfair position of trying to address the key issue before the Commission when her own actions are central to the events at issue. The public cannot help but ask legitimate questions about her motives.

Lopez does not provide a link to any major media outlet for this information, and not surprisingly (given the anemic coverage of Gorelick's multiple conflicts of interest) so far none seems to be carrying the news.

UPDATE: On Minnesota Public Radio, US District Attorney Tom Heffelfinger just stated that the Gorelick memo made it clear to him (at the time it was issued) that information could not be shared between intelligence and law-enforcement units of the FBI.

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» Time to talk Sensenbrenner from sisu
Captain Ed also notes that Congressman James Sensenbrenner is calling for the resignation of 9/11 Commissioner Jamie "Conflict of Interest" Gorelick -- blogged here the other day -- and worries that "major media outlets" aren't paying any attention. We... [Read More]

Tracked on April 15, 2004 6:39 AM