White House Says Clinger Improperly Divulged FBI File

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, July 26) -- The White House has complained to the head of the FBI that House Government Reform and Oversight Chairman William Clinger (R-Pa.) improperly read from an FBI file Thursday from the House floor. (218 K AIFF or WAV sound)

Clinger read from a FBI agent Dennis Sculimbrene's file that documents a relationship between Hillary Clinton and former security office chief Craig Livingstone. White House attorney John Quinn wrote FBI Director Louis Freeh that "there are some serious concerns about privacy issues raises by Mr. Clinger's conduct."

White House spokesman Mike McCurry briefed reporters on Quinn's argument, saying, "The whole issue with Craig Livingstone and the file issue is, has there been any unauthorized disclosure of background information from confidential FBI files. That's exactly what Clinger did yesterday."

Meanwhile, Rep. Bob Livingston (R-La.) released a statement, criticizing the FBI for contacting the White House about Sculimbrene's file, which Clinger characterized as a "heads up." "It is imperative that the impartiality and integrity of our nation's law enforcement agency be

protected for politics, and I fear that line has been crossed," Livingston's statement said.

White House Says Clinger Improperly Divulged FBI File

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