RJC on Freeman Withdrawal

RJC statement:

RJC Hails Freeman Withdrawal
Urges Obama to Take Responsibility for Key Post

Washington, D.C. (March 10, 2009) -- The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) today welcomed the news that Chas Freeman is no longer the Obama administration's choice to head the National Intelligence Council (NIC).

RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks issued the following statement:

"This news will come as a relief to the large and growing group of Americans who have grown concerned about the judgment and process that led to the selection of this flawed appointment."

Brooks noted that "it is unfortunate that important questions went unaddressed by the Obama White House on those occassions they were raised. It's troubling how much effort it took to get them to face up to this problem."

"Membership organizations like the Republican Jewish Coalition publicly challenged Chas Freeman's suitability for this post. And Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle weighed in with concerns.

• Nine representatives sent a letter to the inspector general of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, requesting an investigation into Freeman's ties with Saudi Arabia.
  
• The letter was written by Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL), and signed by seven other Republicans, including Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), as well as one Democrat.
  
• Separately, Democratic Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) sent a similar letter to the inspector general.
  
• Kirk and Israel later asked the inspector general to expand his investigation to include Freeman's connections with a Chinese government-owned oil company.
  
• And today, Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) confronted DNI Admiral Dennis Blair with his concerns during a hearing in the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"We are grateful that Members of Congress in both parties distinguished themselves during this episode and placed principle over partisanship," Brooks concluded.