Congress will investigate the Obama administration for leaking national security information about the foiled Yemen underwear bomber, Rep. Mike Rogers (R., Mich.) said Sunday on Face the Nation.
Rogers, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which is charged with oversight of the nation's intelligence agencies, said the administration was "chest-thumping" by leaking news of the foiled bomb plot—a move that was dangerous for national security.
"It's clear that the information was leaked, and that information was presented at some point to the CIA," Rogers said. "The CIA at that point tried to put that story back in the can for security reasons. We had, people's lives were at stake during this particular operation. And that's where it gets a little murky which is why I've ordered the review. This is not anything that should be used for a headline."
Last week, news broke that the U.S. had killed Fahd Mohammed Ahmed al-Quso, a Yemeni al-Qaeda chief who was plotting to blow up a U.S.-bound airliner, in a drone strike. The bomber chosen by al-Quso to carry out the terrorist strike was later revealed to be a double-agent from Saudi Arabia.
Rogers said Congress and his committee was kept in the dark about the operation by the Obama administration, a violation of the National Security Act of 1947.
"There's a reason you do that: so you can have that third-party independent eye on these kinds of operations because they are serious, dangerous, and classified. It was interesting that, even though the press went to the agency and talked about this particular event, nobody thought at the White House it was important enough to come and live up to the constitutional and statutory rule to notify Congress."
Rogers said he and other members are mulling whether to refer the matter to a full congressional committee or to the FBI for criminal investigation.