I wasn't suggesting that political appointment would be sufficient cause. But we have seen mid level bureaucrats from previous administrations think that it is all right to leak secrets to the press or destroy information (e.g. Berger) for political reasons. One of the ways you keep a secret is not to let others know and especially not to let those who can't keep a secret.

I stand by the fact that we haven't seen enough information to know if this is the case of one lawyer denied access for cause, "all DOJ lawyers" denied access or something in between. What we have a a fax from a Clinton appointee to a democratic congressman who isn't on the house intelligence committee. Hardly a complete set of facts now is it?

When they said "if you aren't with us, you're against us," you thought they were talking about terrorists... ;-)

James Joyner at OTB notes the following from the AP: Security issue kills domestic spying inquiry:
The government has abruptly ended an inquiry into the warrantless eavesdropping program because the National Security Agency refused to grant Justice D...

But if the problem is just some hold overs from the Clinton administration who don�t pass muster...

I would hope that would not be the reason they didn't pass muster.

The counsel sending the fax doesn't provide the details. The fact that he was appointed by Reno during the Clinton administration doesn't prove his fax is meant to be a political stunt vs a real issue, but it doesn't disprove it either.

I agree that if every DOJ lawyer was denied that there is a problem that needs to be addressed. But if the problem is just some hold overs from the Clinton administration who don't pass muster, then its an entirely different affair. There are apparently a fair number of DC bureaucrats who think their judgement on what secrets should be released is dispositive. Maybe the names put forth are in that group? But I don't see enough information to rush to judgement in either direction.

I do not find it beyond the pale of possibilities that the lawyers denied clearance should be denied clearance.

...

The government has abruptly ended an inquiry into the warrantless eavesdropping program because the ...

The Justice Department has dropped its investigation of the FISA wiretapping matter because investigators were unable to obtain clearance to review material necessary to the investigation:
WASHINGTON, May 10 — An investigation by the Justice Departme...