Gross incompetence? Criminal negligence? Or worse?
NBC: In the summer of 2001, career FBI official Tom
Pickard became acting director of the FBI. Because of
intelligence intercepts, concern about a terror attack
was high. In July, Pickard went to brief Ashcroft
about al-Qaida threats and other FBI matters.
NBC News has learned that Pickard now has told 9/11
commission investigators that Ashcroft was somewhat
dismissive of the latest information on al-Qaida. “It
wasn’t something he wanted to hear more about.
Ashcroft had other things on his mind,” sources say
Pickard told the commission...Sources say Pickard also
will testify that Ashcroft rejected a proposal by the
FBI to increase counterterrorism spending before 9/11.
A May 2001 memo signed by Ashcroft lists seven budget
priorities — terrorism is not even mentioned.
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Sources: Former FBI director to criticize Ashcroft terror focus at 9/11 hearings Ashcroft dismissive of al-Qaida information
at July 2001 briefing?
By Lisa Myers
Senior investigative correspondent
NBC News
Updated: 8:11 p.m. ET April 09, 2004
The 9/11 commission picks up again next week with more
high drama in store. NBC News has learned that a
former FBI director is expected to criticize his
former boss, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft,
along with Ashcroft’s focus on terrorism before 9/11.
In the summer of 2001, career FBI official Tom Pickard
became acting director of the FBI. Because of
intelligence intercepts, concern about a terror attack
was high.
In July, Pickard went to brief Ashcroft about al-Qaida
threats and other FBI matters.
NBC News has learned that Pickard now has told 9/11
commission investigators that Ashcroft was somewhat
dismissive of the latest information on al-Qaida.
“It wasn’t something he wanted to hear more about.
Ashcroft had other things on his mind,” sources say
Pickard told the commission.
Pickard testifies publicly before the 9/11 commission
Tuesday and would not comment to NBC.
Ashcroft’s spokesman strongly denies the charge. “I
think that Mr. Pickard’s recollection is just totally
off, you know. Frankly, the attorney general was
interested in counterterrorism from the day he took
office,” said Justice Department spokesman Mark
Corallo.
The allegation that Ashcroft was uninterested in
terrorism two months before the attack is potentially
explosive, because that same month, domestic agencies
— including the FBI — were called to the White House
and alerted to threats of an impending terror attack.
Other witnesses also have told the commission that
Ashcroft didn’t seem interested.
Roger Cressey, now an NBC News analyst, was Dick
Clarke’s deputy in the White House counterterrorism
office: “After our initial briefing, we saw no further
interest by the attorney general or his office in
learning more about the al-Qaida presence inside the
United States.”
Sources say Pickard also will testify that Ashcroft
rejected a proposal by the FBI to increase
counterterrorism spending before 9/11. A May 2001
memo signed by Ashcroft lists seven budget priorities
— terrorism is not even mentioned.
Still, Ashcroft insists his terror funding record is
solid. “I mean we put our money where our mouth was.
We were committed to counterterror,” Corallo added.
Though a reluctant witness, Pickard testifies right
before Ashcroft Tuesday and is expected to put his
former boss on the defensive.
Lisa Myers is NBC’s senior investigative
correspondent.
© 2004 MSNBC Interactive