U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton is demanding that President Bush turn over all records of communications between the White House and the Environmental Protection Agency regarding air quality at Ground Zero in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
Clinton issued the demand at a press conference yesterday, where she alleged that the White House had ordered the EPA to withhold information about contaminated air that was dangerous to the health New York City residents.
"[The EPA] knew and they didn't tell us the truth and the White House told them not to tell us the truth," the top Democrat fumed.
"Maybe in the immediate aftermath, the first couple of days, nobody could know" how dangerous the air was, the former first lady allowed. "But a week later, two weeks later, two months later, six months later - give me a break."
Sen. Clinton pounced after the EPA Inspector General released a report last week suggesting that the Bush administration tried to play down environmental dangers after the 9/11 attacks.
Going beyond anything suggested in the EPA report, however, the celebrated Democrat peppered her concerns about Ground Zero air quality with repeated accusations of a cover-up.
"Somebody picked up the phone, somebody got on a computer, somebody sent an email, somebody called for a meeting, somebody in that White House probably under instructions from somebody further up the chain told the EPA, 'Don't tell the people of New York the truth,'" she told reporters. "And I want to know who that is!"
In a statement posted to her Web site, the former first lady detailed information she said the White House needed to release.
(1) The identification of the White House officials, referred to in the Inspector General's report, that exercised editorial control over EPA's press releases.
(2) The rationale for all editorial choices made by those White House officials, including but not limited to the editorial changes referenced in the Inspector General's report.
(3) All communication between the White House and EPA regarding air quality in downtown New York City, including but not limited to all communication between those offices concerning the editorial changes made to EPA press releases.
Sen. Clinton's accusations of White House wrongdoing come less than two weeks after she blamed the Bush administration for causing the worst blackout in U.S. history. No evidence has since emerged to support that allegation.
Though she claims she has no plans to run for president, the New York Senator's repeated attacks on President Bush have fueled speculation that she is laying the groundwork for a draft movement.
Sen. Clinton is currently the number one choice by far among Democrats to challenge President Bush in 2004, according to every major survey that has included her name.
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Bush Administration
Sen. Hillary Clinton
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