Another Case of Go-Go Gonzales Trading Justice For Political Gain

There are new, well-sourced reports that Rep. Jane Harman , the California Democrat was caught on an NSA wiretap telling a suspected Israeli agent that she would lobby the Justice Department to reduce espionage charges against two officials of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, the most powerful pro-Israel organization in Washington. There had been such allegations against the Congresswoman three years ago, but DOJ dropped the investigation due to lack of evidence. Now, in addition to the newly-revealed wiretap recordings, there is fresh evidence that the Harman investigation was killed by then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales as a political favor to Harman.

Harman was recorded by the NSA saying she would "waddle into" the AIPAC case "if you think it'll make a difference." When asked if she could get the federal charges reduced to lesser felonies, she said that Gonzales would be a difficult task, because he "just follows White House orders," but that she might be able to influence lesser officials.

In exchange for Harman's help, the suspected Israeli agent pledged to help lobby Nancy Pelosi to appoint Harman chair of the Intelligence Committee after the 2006 elections, which the Democrats were heavily favored to win. Wary of what she had just agreed to, according to an official who read the NSA transcript, Harman hung up after saying, "This conversation doesn't exist."

The sources for the CQ Politics story also say that the original investigation of Harman's "quid pro quo" deal were not dropped by DOJ for "lack of evidence" but as a political favor. But what favor exactly, you say?

According to three top former national security officials, Gonzales wanted a scandal-free Harman to be able to help defend the administration's warrantless wiretapping program, which was about hit the press and engulf the White House in controversy. As for there being "no evidence" to support the FBI probe, a source with first-hand knowledge of the wiretaps called that "bullshit."

Just as DOJ was finalizing formal charges against Harman and getting ready to notify Congressional leaders of their forthcoming prosecution, Gonzales intervened. According to two officials privy to the events, Gonzales said he "needed Harman" to help support the administration's warrantless wiretapping program, which was about to be exposed by the New York Times.

Harman had helped persuade the newspaper to hold the wiretap story on the eve of the 2004 elections-- and although it was too late to stop the Times story this time around, Gonzales felt she could be counted on again to help defend the program. He was right.

On Dec. 21, 2005, in the midst of a firestorm of criticism about the wiretaps, Harman issued a statement defending the operation and slamming the Times, saying, "I believe it essential to U.S. national security, and that its disclosure has damaged critical intelligence capabilities."

Thanks to grateful Bush administration officials, the investigation of Harman was effectively dead-- and nearly three years later, many people still want to keep it that way. Former CIA Director Porter Goss is declining interviews on this story, as well as Michael Hayden (who was informed of the Harman transcripts while CIA director, but chose to take no action)

Harman dodged a bullet, say disgusted former officials who have pursued the AIPAC case for years. Many believe she was protected by an administration desperate for help-- "It's the deepest kind of corruption," said a recently retired longtime national security official who was closely involved in AIPAC investigation.