Washington – Democratic senators chided Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday for declaring his office exempt from sections of a presidential order involving matters of national security.
Republicans, more cautiously, said the matter deserves review.
At issue is a requirement that executive-branch offices provide data on how much material they classify and declassify. That information is to be provided to the Information Security Oversight Office at the National Archives.
The White House contends that Cheney is complying properly. It says the presidential order was not intended to treat the vice president’s office as an executive-branch “agency,” and therefore Cheney’s office is exempt from the reporting requirement.
“The vice president is saying he’s above the law, and the fact of the matter is, legal scholars are going to say this is preposterous,” said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., called Cheney’s move “the height of arrogance.” She said it might not be a bad idea – as some other Democrats have suggested – that money for Cheney’s office be held up until he decides whether or not he’s in the executive branch.
“I find this just amazing,” she said.
“Let the courts decide if there’s something wrong here,” said Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was asked in January to resolve the dispute, but he has not ruled on the issue.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating the matter.
