By Facsimile Transmission and Overnight Mail
The Honorable Richard C. Shelby
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
SH-211 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6475
Re: United States v. CTR1 Daniel M. King. USN
Dear Mr. Chairman:
I am writing to you again regarding the on-going and
serious national security violations in the above referenced case. I
previously sought congressional intervention when all efforts to
abate and correct these violations had failed. After writing to
members of Congress with oversight authority in the intelligence
area, I was assured that the Navy had promised Congress an inquiry
and appropriate action. Since that time, witnesses have testified
that no inquiry was ever made and the national security violations
have continued. I have attached our most recent communication to the
Director of Central Intelligence on this subject.
In the last twenty-four hours, another major security
violation was discovered in which extremely sensitive program
information was disclosed on repeated occasions to unauthorized
persons. This latest violation involved a videc tape containing
program information that was played at a local hotel to an audience
of unauthorized parties. Over the course of several weeks, the
defense repeatedly objected that the tape contained program
information but those objections were repeatedly dismissed on the
record. This resulted in the failure to properly secure the tape and
to take immediate steps to contain damage caused by the on-going
violation. Had an inquiry been made, such on-going violations could
have been addressed and corrected.
I have become convinced that national security
interests are being compromised due to the professional and career
concerns of program security officials and Navy officers. It is
particularly alarming that no one even inquired with the defense as
to the scope and gravity of these violations. This complete failure
to investigate and correct these violations has placed myself and my
colleagues in an extremely difficult position as security clearance
holders. We believe that we have an obligation to use every possible
means and avenue to address the violations and seek corrective
action.
I ask for your immediate intervention into this
matter and an inquiry into the failure to investigate these serious
allegations. I would be happy to speak in detail as to these
violations with the participation of our security officer, Mr. Billy
Cochran, and my two co-counsel, LT Robert Bailey and LT Matthew
Freedus.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Turley
Defense Counsel for Petty Officer Daniel King