Typical level of discourse

9/11 commissioner: 'I've received threats'
Gorelick says she won't step down; FBI investigating

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Jamie Gorelick, a member of the commission investigating the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, said Saturday that she received death threats this week after a number of conservatives alleged that her former work in the Justice Department may have contributed to failures leading to the attacks.

In the mid-1990s, Gorelick served as deputy attorney general of the United States.

During that time, she wrote a memorandum establishing distinctions between intelligence that could be used for law-enforcement purposes and intelligence that could be used for national security purposes.

That separation was originally required as a safeguard against abuse of citizens' rights by government investigative agencies. But passage of the Patriot Act in the wake of the attacks eliminated the requirement.

Posted by Prometheus 6 on April 18, 2004 - 7:33am :: Politics
 
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Gorelick should have been a witness rather than a commissioner since she helped shape part of American policy response to terrorism during her tenure at the Clinton administration DOJ.

There are many fine retired and active Democratic officials who could have taken her seat who did not have a vested interest in the outcome of the report since it was likely that " law enforcement vs. state of war " paradigm was going to be a subject of debate.

Posted by  mark safranski (not verified) on April 18, 2004 - 12:03pm.

No doubt. But death threats against a public official for doing her job is always going to be a problem.

Posted by  P6 (not verified) on April 18, 2004 - 2:01pm.

Very true. No excuse for it - in fact it is a crime, not simply excessive partisanship. hopefully some of the yahoos will get an FBI visit.

Posted by  mark safranski (not verified) on April 18, 2004 - 10:29pm.