Henry Waxman is My Hero (at least for today).

Sorry to harp on Cheney, but he deserves it.

Henry Waxman who is the Chair of the Government Oversight Committee wrote a letter today to White House Counsel Fred Fielding outlining the White House and the Office of the Vice President has "flaunted multiple requirements for protecting classified information." In the letter Waxman disputes the claim by Dana Perino that the Office of the Vice President and the President are complying with all rules and regulations; the only part of the Executive Order not being followed is the "small portion" of the Oversight Responsibilities of the Information Security Office at the National Archives (the infamous - the office of the VP is not part of the executive branch).

Waxman disputes this claim in his letter dated today. He states numerous times the White House has been "dangerously inadequate" with respect to "security violations, corrective action following breaches and physically securing classified information."

The letter highlights include:

White House security officers blocked from inspecting the West Wing. The National Archives is not the only agency ensuring that White House officials comply with the requirements for protecting classified information. The White House Security Office (WHSO) also shares this responsibility. Waxman reports today that WHSO employees “have been blocked from conducting inspections in the West Wing of the White House, where most of the President’s most senior advisors work.”

Karl Rove has had his security clearance renewed. Karl Rove has admitted that he publicly disclosed Valerie Plame’s status as a CIA officer. Under guidelines issued by President Bush in 2005, the “deliberate or negligent disclosure” of classified information can be a “disqualifying” condition to receive security clearance. Yet Waxman reports that Rove has had his security clearance renewed “and not altered in any respect.”

White House ignored security breaches, condoned mismanagement. Management at White House Security Office has been unwilling to “take actions that could embarrass White House officials,” a practice “condoned” by the White House, Waxman writes. For example, the office repeatedly ignored security breaches that were reported by the Secret Service or CIA agents, such as when a “White House official left classified materials unattended in a hotel room.” As a result, there was “plummeting morale among White House security officers,” half of whom quit last year.

Waxman says if the White House does not respond and grant interviews as the Oversight Committee has been trying to arrange he will bring a motion to subpoena by June 28.

See this Daily Show video about DICK. At the five minute mark see Cheney using executive privilege to shield from revealing information.