Kitty Felde
May 04, 2009
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This past weekend, one of the country's most powerful pro-Israel groups drew a packed house to a Washington, D.C. auditorium. And among those who came speak to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee was Congresswoman Jane Harman. AIPAC has a loyal friend in Harman. But that loyalty has her in hot water now. The El Segundo Democrat is accused by unnamed sources of agreeing to talk to the Justice Department about easing up on a pair of AIPAC lobbyists accused of spying. The accusations come from sources that say they've seen transcriptions of government wiretaps. KPCC's Washington Correspondent Kitty Felde sat down with Harman to talk about what she did - and what she didn't do.
Kitty Felde: We'll start with the one of the key accusations facing Congresswoman Jane Harman: did someone from AIPAC offer to help her get the chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee if she'd intervene in an espionage case involving two former AIPAC lobbyists? And did she agree to do it?
Congresswoman Jane Harman: I have absolutely no memory of anything like that happening. I am clear about one thing, which is that never in my long career ever have I intervened for leniency in some act of prosecution on behalf of anybody anywhere. So that never happened.
These allegations by unnamed sources prompted me two weeks ago to write a letter to Attorney General Holder where I have asked for him to release any tapes and any supporting material he has about these alleged FBI or NSA wiretaps on me.
Felde: But you know from all your years with intelligence materials the likelihood that they will release these materials unexpedited is very slim.
Harman: I don't know what the likelihood is. This is a new administration that has turned the page on things like Guantanamo Bay, something I strongly salute them for doing, and has said that they're going to restore the rule of law in all respects. I'm also strongly in favor of that.
Felde: Last week, a handful of disgruntled progressive Democrats demonstrated outside Harman's El Segundo office. They say she was disingenuous when she expressed "outrage" at being wiretapped.
They point to her vote to protect telecommunication companies from getting sued if they cooperated with the Bush Administration's program of warrantless wiretaps. Harman explains it this way:
Harman: I spoke out all during the Bush administration about the need to bring any so-called terrorist surveillance program fully under the law – the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. I have never supported warrantless wiretaps. I have only supported surveillance consistent with our law and our constitution.
This anonymous leaking of selected alleged transcripts talking of intercepts against members of Congress or anyone else who were talking to Americans who were part of advocacy groups or constituency groups is number one, wrong, number two, a crime, and number three, presents a chilling effect against the normal activities of members of Congress, which must be to get the most information we can so that we have accurate views on public policy.
Felde: El Segundo Democratic Congresswoman Jane Harman – she's supposedly engaged in a long-running feud with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who denied her the House Intelligence Committee chairmanship. But, says Harman:
Harman: Oh, we have a cordial and professional relationship.
Felde: Jane Harman talks about Speaker Pelosi... coming up tomorrow.
Kitty Felde/KPCC
