The whole AP story smells bad. Obama's half-aunt was reportedly leave the country four years ago. All of a sudden, the info is leaked to AP 3 days before the election. A coincidence? Please... Surely, this is the very last salvo of disgusting Bush-Rove-McCain machine.
This is a non-story which media will try to play for the next 24 hours.
The bigger question, though, is who leaked this information to AP. ICE is obviously prohibited to release any information on anyone's immigration status:
ICE spokeswoman Kelly Nantel emails: "ICE is prohibited from commenting on any individual’s status or the status of any case.
http://www.politico.com/...
Yet, ICE and DOJ are in exclusive possession of such information. So who leaked it in violation of all procedures and why?
Rep. Coneyrs fires a letter to Chertoff, demanding immediate investigation:
I was startled to read in today's Associated Press that a "federal law enforcement official" has leaked information about an immigration case involving a relative of Senator Obama. Even more troubling, the AP reports that it could not "could not establish whether anyone at a political level in the Bush administration or in the McCain campaign had been involved," a very disturbing suggesting indeed. This leak is deplorable and I urge you to take immediate action to investigate and discipline those responsible.
I note that this is not the first leak of law enforcement information apparently designed to influence the coming Presidential election -- in recent weeks law enforcement sources leaked information about an alleged investigation of a community services organization, a leak that the Department of Justice informs me is now under investigation by the Department's Office of the Inspector General and Professional Responsibility.
Such leaks are deeply harmful to the political process, and the American people expect and deserve better from their government and its law enforcement agencies.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/...
DOJ's trying to run the clock:
Spokeswoman Kelly Nantel declined to comment on whether they're looking into it.
"We never confirm or deny the existence of an investigation," she emailed Politico.
One thing is good: There are no more bullets left in Bush-Rove-McCain sleaze gun barrel.