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| Kissinger Watch #13 - 6 | |
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| Kissinger to be asked to list clients / FT | |
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| By Edward Alden in Washington Financial Times; Dec 05, 2002 The families of the September 11 victims want Henry Kissinger, former secretary of state, and other members of an inquiry commission into the attacks to make a full, confidential disclosure of their consulting clients in order to avoid any conflicts of interest. The forthcoming demand is the first sign that the families - instrumental in pushing the White House to agree to the commission - are worried that Mr Kissinger's close ties to foreign and domestic corporate clients may hamper his ability to lead an aggressive investigation. The proposal is to be put forward at a meeting scheduled for next week between the families and Mr Kissinger, named by President George W. Bush last week to chair the inquiry. Stephen Push, who heads the group Families of September 11, told the FT: "We are going to demand he disclose his clients to the commissioners and let the commissioners decide [if there are conflicts], not the White House counsel. If he wants to maintain his credibility with us, he's going to have to do that." Mr Kissinger's company, Kissinger McLarty Associates, is one of Washington's most powerful lobbying firms, trading on Mr Kissinger's reputation and access to the top people in government. The White House last week said the job as inquiry chairman would be a part-time post, which, under government ethics rules, means he will not be required to disclose publicly his clients or halt temporarily his consulting work. Some members of Congress, however, have asked the Congressional Research Service to examine whether full disclosure may be legally required. Mr Kissinger was travelling yesterday and could not be reached for comment. He told CNN at the weekend that he would not publicly disclose his clients, but would discuss those clients fully with the White House counsel and appropriate ethics groups. He also said he had no Saudi clients, and did not represent any Middle East governments, and called "outrageous" any suggestions that his commercial interests would compromise his independence. But the families want the other nine commissioners on the 10-strong investigation team, rather than White House lawyers, to control decisions about possible conflicts. The tussle over Mr Kissinger's client base is the latest spat between the families and the White House, which had long resisted forming a commission to investigate why the US failed to head off the September 11 attacks. The families had put forward a list of five names to the White House as possible chairs of the commission, and were surprised by the choice of Mr Kissinger. George Mitchell, former Democratic senator, was also named last week as the vice-chairman. The fight over the committee has now turned to the naming of the other eight members, which must be completed by December 15. Congressional Democrats control five of the 10 appointments, but a majority of six commissioners is required to issue subpoenas that would legally force reluctant witnesses to testify. | |
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