Brown claims DeWine missed many hearings But sessions only part of intelligence work, senator says

Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Stephen Koff
Plain Dealer Bureau Chief

Washington -- Sen. Mike DeWine has missed nearly half the public hearings of the Senate Intelligence Committee, a panel he is on that is supposed to keep the nation's intelligence capabilities on track, his opponent charged Tuesday.

DeWine's absenteeism included most if not every one of the committee's public oversight hearings in the three years before 9/11, according to committee attendance records provided by the campaign of Rep. Sherrod Brown, the Avon Democrat opposing DeWine in November.

DeWine missed sessions where then-CIA Director George Tenet and other intelligence authorities testified, and where worldwide security threats, international terrorism, counterintelligence threats at the nation's nuclear laboratories and nominations to intelligence agencies were discussed, records show.

DeWine's campaign, promoting the Republican incumbent as strong on national security, did not dispute these assertions. But spokesman Brian Seitchik, said public hearings represent only a sliver of DeWine's intelligence work. >>>cont

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