NewsMine — propoganda — terror-threats — 2004 — Viewing Item

Scared senator shuts down office for election terror threat Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/politics/capitol/9902707.htm?1c http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/politics/capitol/9902707.htm?1c Posted on Wed, Oct. 13, 2004 Citing threat, Dayton closes D.C. office Senator's 'extreme precaution' follows top-secret terror memo BY TOM WEBB Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON — Citing a top-secret threat, U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton shut his Washington office through Election Day and urged Minnesotans to avoid Capitol Hill — an act that generated controversy in Washington and beyond. Dayton said that he acted after reading a classified memo available to all U.S. senators, but that he couldn't discuss its contents. Not a single Senate or House lawmaker appeared to follow suit, and many privately said they were startled by Dayton's actions. "I do so out of extreme, but necessary, precaution to protect the lives and safety of my Senate staff and my Minnesota constituents," Dayton, D-Minn., told reporters Tuesday. Other members of the Minnesota congressional delegation expressed surprise at Dayton's actions. "There is no evidence to suggest today that we should be closing the office of a sitting U.S. senator," said Erich Mische, chief of staff of U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn. That stance was reiterated by top Senate and House officials, as well as the U.S. Capitol police. "There's no new intelligence that I'm aware of at all that would change things in the last month or two in the Senate," said William Pickle, the Senate Sergeant at Arms who has oversight of the Capitol Police and works with intelligence agencies. Still, he added, the closing "generated an awful lot of calls" from jittery Capitol Hill offices. A senior FBI official said the bureau remains concerned about an attack before the November election but has no new information pointing to a time or place. There is also no specific information pointing to an attack on Capitol Hill, the FBI official said. Law enforcement officials have been warning since the spring about a possible strike before the presidential elections by terrorists who may have been emboldened by train bombings in Madrid that helped turn the tide in Spain's elections. Dayton, a freshman elected in 2000, said he read about the threat a couple of weeks ago, at the behest of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. The more Dayton read, the more concerned he grew. "Senator Frist made us aware of this intelligence report. … I've read it, and reread it, and read other documents related to it, all classified top-secret," Dayton told reporters. After Dayton failed to persuade Senate leaders to meet jointly to discuss the threat, he acted alone. Asked if constituents should stay away, Dayton replied, "I wouldn't advise them to come to Capitol Hill." Across Capitol Hill, however, other offices all remained open. One Senate Republican office was aware of the memo, and an aide disclosed that the senator had privately told employees they could take time off if they were worried. More typical was the reaction from lawmakers like Rep. Mark Kennedy, R-Watertown, who said he'd received no classified information that would prompt an office closing or a warning to potential visitors. "The congressman believes very strongly that we cannot let the terrorists win by caving in to their threats. We must remain open for business," said Kennedy's chief of staff, Pat Shortridge. In a news conference Tuesday evening at MinneapolisSt. Paul International Airport, Dayton defended his actions, saying he was worried about the safety of his staff and visitors to his office. "I'm doing what I believe is the right thing to do,'' he said. On a practical level, the closing will have minimal impact. Both the House and Senate largely wrapped up their pre-election business Monday, save for a one-day session scheduled for Oct. 20. Lawmakers are scheduled to return after the election for a short wrap-up session. Dayton said he'll continue to work, but from his Fort Snelling office, not from Washington. His Washington staff will either work from home, from a building away from Capitol Hill, or from Dayton's Minnesota office. The timing of Dayton's actions led to feverish speculation — but few facts — about whether any of this was intended to influence the upcoming election. Until now, Dayton has been determined not to let terrorism warnings, war planning or other security threats alter his schedule. The senator has visited Iraq, Afghanistan and other war-torn spots. "None of us can predict the future," Dayton said in a lengthy statement that was taped to his office door. "I hope and pray that the precautions I have taken will prove unnecessary. If so, I will accept the inevitable judgments made with perfect hindsight."

Administration expecting attacks before election Alerts in august 2004 sparked by pre 911 information Alqaeda attack within this election cycle { December 13 2003 } Alqaeda nukes through mexico Attack this summer in major us city Britain warnings of attack are political driven { October 15 2004 } Cia analyzes video of attack threat { October 27 2004 } Fbi alerts for drivers with maps Fbi checked las vegas hotel lists Fbi warns of targeting cities Fbi warns texas oil industry of possible attack Former spanish prime minister predicts mid june terror threats { May 19 2004 } Govnernor criticizes flow of terror information { October 26 2004 } Greenspan prepares for terror threats effecting economy { June 15 2004 } Hotels airlines ordered to give fbi information { December 31 2003 } Intelligence for warning dated 4 years old { August 3 2004 } Interrogated alqaeda programmer leads to financial warnings { August 2 2004 } Little evidence of qaeda plot timed to vote { October 24 2004 } Missing keys at nuke lab New information indicates big attacks summer 2004 No alqaida link to airfrance passenger Passenger bomb threat diverts plane to dulles { January 11 2004 } Passengers die on flights to london { January 19 2004 } Preparing for nuclear threat { March 19 2004 } Purported al qaida tape warns of attacks Report warns of failure to control biological weapons { October 26 2004 } Reports that led to terror alert were years old { August 3 2004 } Scared senator shuts down office for election terror threat Seven flights to from us are canceled Suspected terror worked at nuclear weapons lab { December 31 2003 } Tenet warns of spectacular attacks plans Terror alert may disrupt flights for years Terror attack likely early september 2004 { August 3 2004 } Terrorists will enter through using art sports cultural visas Us bracing for terror before election { April 18 2004 } Us feared major aviation dirty bomb attack { January 8 2004 } Us intel learn possible attacks major us cities US mulling how to delay november vote in case attack Us warns qaeda threat to financial icons world bank imf Valentines weekend flight cancellation { February 12 2004 } Vital clues for threat came for alqaeda operatives Files Listed: 41

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.