Intelligence

DATE=7/18/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=F-B-I / SENATE (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-278384

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S lawmakers are sharply criticizing the Federal Bureau of Investigation after the agency admitted that nearly 200 laptop computers and hundreds of its weapons were stolen or lost. It is the latest embarrassment for the F-B-I, which is still dealing with the aftermath of the arrest of agent Robert Hanssen on espionage charges earlier this year. V-O-A Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

TEXT: What had been expected to be a routine Senate Judiciary Committee hearing into F-B-I security improvements took on added significance with the disclosure of lost or stolen weapons and computers. At least one of the computers contained classified information.

Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont, demanded information from Acting F-B-I Deputy Assistant Director, Kenneth Senser.

/// LEAHY ACTUALITY 1 ///

Who is held accountable?

/// SENSER ACTUALITY 1 ///

At the time, there was nobody held accountable. The F-B-I policy was very clear on the control of laptop computers and more specifically, any laptop computers that might be used to process classified information.

/// LEAHY ACTUALITY 2 ///

You are saying that nobody was held accountable, so you could have laptops with classified information and leave it up to the person who is holding it to make sure they turn it in when they are supposed to be? We have a lot better (process) here in the Senate.

/// END ACT ///

Ranking Republican member Orrin Hatch called the F-B-I's latest misstep "simply inexcusable."

/// HATCH ACTUALITY ///

Lax administrative controls over sensitive materials like these cannot be tolerated.

/// END ACT ///

But the F-B-I's Mr. Senser says security has improved in the wake of the arrest of Robert Hanssen, who has pleaded guilty to charges of spying for Moscow for 15 years. Mr. Senser's comments came in response to questioning from Senator Leahy.

/// LEAHY ACTUALITY 3 ///

Is there a system in place today so that if you have a computer with classified information, that somebody in the F-B-I can say, 'at 2:00 in the afternoon, I know where every one of the computers is with classified information, and who has them?

/// SENSER ACTUALITY 2 ///

The answer is, yes that is true.

/// END ACT ///

The F-B-I also has come under fire for bungling an espionage case involving former nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee, and for failing to turn over documents to defense lawyers for Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.

/// OPT /// Senator Leahy criticized the agency for a culture of covering up its mistakes.

/// OPT // LEAHY ACTUALITY 4 ///

A perception that credible allegations of misconduct are being whitewashed, or that a double standard of discipline s being applied in whcih senior supervisors get lighter punishment than line agents for the same offenses, will erode public confidence and demoralize the agency's own employees.

/// END ACT // END OPT ///

U-S Attorney General John Ashcroft has ordered a review of F-B-I security procedures by the Justice Department's inspector general.

Some lawmakers - including Senator Hatch - have offered legislation aimed at reforming the F-B-I, with provisions for independent, periodic reviews of the agency. (Signed)

NEB/DAT/JWH