Newt's Take

" But first. President Obama has a new headache seven men both Democrats Republicans who served as director of central intelligence or CIA director. Have joined together time the president he needs to do -- all seven men signed a letter to the president they write. Theme park. We have respectfully urge you to exercise your authority to reverse attorney general holders August 24 decision. To reopen the criminal investigation. Of CIA interrogations that took place behind the attacks of September 11. The seven former directors say the investigation has been done. And -- another investigation will damage the willingness of intelligence officers to take risks to protect our country. At a department justice released a statement today saying in part. The attorney general's decision to order a preliminary review into this matter was made in line with his duty to examine the facts and to follow the law. Moments ago former speaker of the house Newt Gingrich went on the record. Speaker nice to see you good to see you. Well the president -- got to let."

" from some former directors of the CIA and other intelligence officials today. -- it doesn't want they want some to tell the attorney general and not to go -- the investigation. Well -- I think."

" Give you represented American intelligence community. The idea that is this letter points the CIA reviewed these cases the Justice Department career professionals -- these cases. Everybody involved with one exception. Was told that they had done the right thing one person was in fact found guilty. And then -- totals over now he had a new administration. And new attorney general. He wants to open up all these cases that have been closed. The first thing that does is it creates a double jeopardy for these people. The second thing it does is it sends a signal to every intelligence officer in the world. There's no safety there's no security doesn't matter what the lawyer told you because the next lawyer under the next president could reverse it. And I think it causes enormous damage to our ability to run intelligence operations around the world."

" Is it technical matters not double checked and on Syria is -- as a technical matter doesn't because they haven't started a trial -- this start over but. The thing that -- found in Christine in the letter was. Not all -- the -- the cost to these people and the sea -- pick up the cost for the -- us. But that it would send a message to foreign intelligence. Agencies with only one information that end we -- keeping secret. And it just this it says -- international operations is -- I hadn't thought about."

" This is a this is a continuing problem back in the Carter years there were so many leaks. That they literally various. Foreign intelligence services just cut us off they wouldn't share things because they didn't want some American congressman. Releasing -- their agent was in getting their agent killed. And and it's a very when when when you're a foreign government and you watch the kind of political manipulation we get involved in with our intelligence community. You -- and I think maybe I shouldn't cooperate with the Americans and then people need to understand you know. This is a dangerous world there -- people want to kill us. And we can either send the signal -- we want Americans to protect us. Wouldn't send a signal -- Americans to worry about lawyers -- protect us but there's no middle ground on this one fits. It puts. -- current director senate financial position because on the one hand he. He supports the administration the other hand he supports so the sentiment within the CIA that this investigation should not go forward. Well I give Leon Panetta lot of credit he's he has been pretty courageous in speaking up in defense of the CIA. Both one speaker Pelosi said things in the attorney general has been my impression is that there have been some very strong arguments of the White House. But in your points right in the end. The current director is operating within the framework of the president's approval and he -- except the president or or resign. I think it's very telling me you had a number of CIA directors. With 35 years experience both Democrats and Republicans who have now publicly said to the president. That is his duty as commander in chief to step in and instruct his attorney general not to pursue this. And I think this is a real test for President Obama and whether it puts protecting America first. -- he puts appeasing his allies on the left first because it's a very clear choice."

" What I think is gonna happen coming in and that there -- people in the far left side of his party that are going to be extraordinarily unhappy with him if there isn't a full and complete investigation done by his administration. I would like."

" To believe that the same concern for national security. -- let him appoint a marine four star general Jim Jones -- National Security Adviser who has led him to take a pretty courageous position on Afghanistan. That that same concern for security will lead him to come down on the side of the intelligence community and issue instruction to his attorney general."

" Was fullest scandal blowing up all around us here Washington actually since she took. Two two young people to sort of sort of get this -- rolling."

" This is I think one of the most amazing stories these CN people I guess it -- more -- or something maybe said he you know why don't we go out and pretend now pretend I'm."

" A -- you pretend you're a prostitute will go in and we'll say -- the local acorn the federal government paid employees. How do you think we might turn part of the public housing project into a ring a prostitution. So we could make money so we could run for office. 109 out of ten cities. People said well let me share -- how -- And we've only seen the tip of this iceberg it's gonna keep coming we're gonna learn more and more. And what it's done is it suddenly focused attention on an organization. Which in twelve states is under investigation for breaking the law. And now when you -- on TV and you hear these people -- you realize this is your tax money going to an organization which was -- people. Who were willing to plan and condone criminal behavior."

" I think some other dementia -- congressman imminent just handing money out -- following through looking to see where this money is going where it's been spent a minute just. That -- this millions and millions of dollars -- sort of flooding out of congress -- of taxpayers. There is no accountability mean don't they ever check to see what happens Snowe of."

" One of the things -- congressman Darrell ice is done is he's demanding the federal government audit. All the money paid acorn over the last five years. Even after they released a video. In which to me the one young actresses. Community and mine is they bring -- el salvadorans were between twelve and fifteen. To be prostitutes and the person from acorn being paid by the government -- don't know yet paying taxes on don't worry about it. I mean even after that there was still 75 Democrats the house who voted to keep funding -- cool."

" Including senator Durbin who is -- it was in the Senate Leadership about voting to fund it we have you have to wonder what they're thinking of me. Clean and the -- a post a video on Greta -- and that was taken from another network an interview with the CEO. And her complaints part of that the list said addition complain about Fox News and last second watch this is that. Yet if -- with -- CEO pay acorn. I wouldn't be squawking about those -- rotten people at Fox News -- how can I clean up my organization how can I apologize to taxpayers how can I do something to make -- in a conference because there is some good work acorn does now the entire group is is tarnished. Well but that's that's part of --"

" that they had a very long tradition. -- breaking the law that had a very long tradition for example of occupying people's houses. I live very long tradition of doing things in terms of voter registration and got him indicted. And all this is coming to -- and -- now it is so visited. In this series is it's really quite remarkable and I give. Not Andrew right bargaining Hollywood a lot of credit for -- helped launch this and I think that they did too young people -- under the filming are just amazing. They have a long career ahead of the -- stuff."

" And and in the people Julio haven't shame none of them is the United States congress. And even -- and those who still won't defund them pending an investigation. And those who who are still in defending them. An assassin that there -- additional iron out all crooks but at least stand can't stand tough on this -- with the millions of dollars and."

" And -- John Boehner the Republican leader introduced a bill to defund them totally. And I think everybody surprise of those accepted as a motion to recommit and voted on in the past further margin. And so both in the house and senate now they have voted to defund acorn within a week of these things coming out. And it's and -- examples sometimes things tilt and all of a sudden. People start reacting to new information."