http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/03/state_wont_release_names_of_co.phpState Won't Release Names of Contractors... Just Cuz
By Paul Kiel - March 21, 2008, 12:59PM
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) wants to know why the State Department won't release the names of the contractors whose employees looked at Barack Obama's passport file.
The answer, it seems, is that there's an investigation going on, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Sean McCormack said last night: "there's an investigation aspect to this so we want that to be able to proceed in as clear a manner as it possibly can." During today's briefing, he indicated that might change -- at least, they'll "take a look at it":
Question: OK. And another question: Can you name the two companies or contractors that these people -- that the three people worked for?
McCormack: At this point we're not prepared to release the name of the contractors. There could be a point here at which we will. There's been a request in from the Hill for that information, along with a lot of other information. So we'll take a look at that.
At the moment, I'm not prepared to provide that. But we'll take a look at it.
Question: Why are you not naming the companies? It's a public contract.
McCormack: Yes. No. Look, it's a legitimate question. We're taking a look at it.
I think that at this point we've just started an investigation. We want to err on the side of caution and allow investigators to get a start without some of the attention that comes with talking about the names of the contractors.
We'll see. It's something that we're taking under advisement. But at this point in time, we're not going to talk about it.
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