Roberts says memo undermines inquiry 11/05/03: "WASHINGTON -- Republican Sen. Pat Roberts said Democrats have undermined the inquiry he is leading into Iraq prewar intelligence by drafting a memo aimed at discrediting the Senate Intelligence Committee's work.
The Kansan is chairman of the committee. The memo was written by Democratic committee staff and wasn't finalized or circulated among members of the committee, said the panel's senior Democrat, West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller.
Rockefeller acknowledged the document after news reports quoted excerpts from it. The memo spells out steps to make the committee's inquiry irrelevant by setting up an independent commission, and in the process attempt to 'castigate' majority Republicans. It suggested 'pulling the trigger' on the plan 'probably next year.'
Roberts said the memo stunned him.
'It's like a personal slap in the face,' he said. 'I'm very frustrated by it.'"
The Kansan is chairman of the committee. The memo was written by Democratic committee staff and wasn't finalized or circulated among members of the committee, said the panel's senior Democrat, West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller.
Rockefeller acknowledged the document after news reports quoted excerpts from it. The memo spells out steps to make the committee's inquiry irrelevant by setting up an independent commission, and in the process attempt to 'castigate' majority Republicans. It suggested 'pulling the trigger' on the plan 'probably next year.'
Roberts said the memo stunned him.
'It's like a personal slap in the face,' he said. 'I'm very frustrated by it.'"
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